A new historic marker remembering the lynching of Will Brown over a century ago in Omaha was unveiled at the site of the atrocity, the Douglas County Courthouse last Friday.

On Sept. 28, 1919, Brown was beaten, hung, lit on fire, and dragged across town after being accused of rape by Agnes Loebeck, a white woman. Brown, a laborer, was arrested for the crime despite Loebeck not being able to identify the alleged assailant.

Two days later a group gathered outside the Omaha courthouse and spectators began firing guns into the courthouse before setting it on fire.

Eventually, members of the mob scaled the building and captured Brown. They beat him unconscious, stripped him naked, hanged him, dragged his body through the streets, poured gasoline on him and burned his body. They also posed for a photo with Brown’s burning body.

The incident was one of nearly 40 race riots around the country during the span named the “Red Summer.” Brown maintained his innocence until his death.

“Until we make atonement for the lynching of Will Brown, our community will continue to grieve,” said Vickie R. Young, president of the Omaha NAACP. “This historical marker is a monumental step toward racial justice and reconciliation in our city. It will forever stand on the Douglas County Courthouse lawn, ensuring our community never forgets the racial injustices we’ve experienced.”

The marker is a blue rectangle-shaped plate with gold lettering, measuring about 42 inches wide by 38.5 inches high. The mounting post is about 7-foot tall.

“This community effort aimed at racial reconciliation could not have happened without the tireless work of the Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation in collaboration with the City’s Human Rights & Relations Department, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, the Omaha Douglas Public Building Commission, the Omaha Branch of the NAACP and many educators from Douglas and Sarpy County high schools who helped students prepare for this historic commemoration,” said Franklin T. Thompson, director of the City of Omaha’s Human Rights & Relations Department. “Together, we have demonstrated the wisdom and the importance of rebuilding Nebraska one citizen — one student at a time.”