The Lynching of Zachariah Walker
East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
An African American steelworker, Walker was burned to death by a mob near here on August 13, 1911. He was accused of killing Edgar Rice, a white security guard and former borough policeman. Fifteen local men and teenage boys were indicted for their involvement in Walker's death but were acquitted of all charges. Nation-wide outrage led to the NAACP's national anti-lynching campaign and inspired Pennsylvania's 1923 anti-lynching law.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
On August 13, 1911, Zachariah Walker, a Black steelworker accused of killing a white security guard, was seized from a hospital bed and burned to death by a mob near this spot. Fifteen local men and boys were indicted for the crime, yet every one was acquitted. The horror provoked outrage across the country and helped galvanize the NAACP's national anti-lynching campaign, ultimately inspiring Pennsylvania's 1923 anti-lynching law.
Why it matters
Walker's murder is a searing reminder that racial terror was not confined to the South, and that this Northern atrocity helped spark an organized national movement against lynching.
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Related people
- · Zachariah Walker
- · Edgar Rice
Related events
- · Lynching of Zachariah Walker, Aug. 13, 1911
Themes & tags
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