Journalist, Suffragist, Anti-Lynching Activist
The Equal Justice Initiative, founded by social justice icon Attorney Bryan Stevenson, has documented the racial terror lynchings of 6,500 Black people; atrocities committed in the United States from 1865-1950.
Seven Black people were victims of racial terror lynchings in Colorado.
One of the victims was teenager Preston "John" Porter Jr.
Our Mission
The Colorado Lynching Memorial Project is a community-based effort to promote racial justice and racial reconciliation in our state; documenting the history of racial terror lynching, advocating for full acknowledgment of these murders, and ensuring that those whose lives were taken in the brutal campaigns are remembered with honor and dignity.
Our vision
To create a new legacy of racial justice and equity by shining the light of truth on Colorado's atrocious history of white supremacy and racial terror.
Meet The Coalition Members
Rosemary Lytle
President of the NAACP Colorado-Montana-Wyoming State Conference
​
Judy Ollman
Equal Justice Initiative Liaison
David Maxted
Civil Rights Attorney
Anthony Thomas Suggs
The Episcopal Church in Colorado Advocacy and Social Justice Coordinator
Reverend Tawana Davis
Soul2Soul Sisters, the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Darren Armstrong
The Episcopal Church in Colorado, Chair of the Race Task Force
Pennie Goodman
The Episcopal Church in Colorado Race Task Force and Peace Fellowship
.jpg)
Montana Stevenson
Equal Justice Initiative Essay Contest
Jerry D. Otero III
Environmental and Civil Rights Advocate
Michelle Auerbach
Equal Justice Initiative Essay Contest
Cleta Hiner-Felzien
Limon Contact
Jovan Mays
First Poet Laureate of Aurora, Youth Voice Coordinator of Aurora Public Schools
Dara Ollman
Graphic + Web Design and Administration, Social Media Contact
Elisabeth Epps
Colorado Freedom Fund and the Denver Justice Project
Steven Leonard, Ph.D.
Professor of History at MSU
and Author of
"Lynching in Colorado, 1859-1919"
Kamau Allen
Together Colorado
Acknowledgements
Since its inception in 2018, the Colorado Community Remembrance Project Denver-Limon Coalition (CCRP) has been assisted, and continues to be helped, by generous people and organizations. If we have omitted anyone or group, accept our apologies, and let us know so we may give you proper credit.
We thank the following
The Equal Justice Initiative and it's team of people, including Gabrielle Daniels and Trey Walk, who have worked tirelessly with us to remember the lynching of Preston "John" Porter Jr.
​
The NAACP Colorado-Montana-Wyoming State Conference for financial support.
​
The Episcopal Church in Colorado for use of their facilities and equipment.
​
The Bohemian Foundation for covering the cost of the Preston Porter Jr. historical marker in downtown Denver.
​
Denver Councilman Paul Kashmann for helping pass the Denver City Council Proclamation, and for his dedication and persistence in obtaining permission from Denver authorities to install the Porter marker.
​
Denver Councilman Albus Brooks for sponsoring the Denver City Council Proclamation.
​
Denver Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca for her enthusiastic support for the installation of the historical marker in her council district.
​
All the other members of the Denver City Council who unanimously supported Council Proclamation No. 18-1294 memorializing Preston Porter Jr. They include: Rafael Espinoza (D1), Kevin Flynn (D2), Paul Lopez (D3), Kendra Black (D4), MaryBeth Susman (D5), Paul Kashmann (D6), Jolon Clark (D7), Christopher Herndon (D8), Albus Brooks (D9), Wayne New (D10), Stacie Gilmore (D11), Robin Kniech (AL), and Debbie Ortega (AL).
​
Colorado State Senator Angela Williams for working with us to obtain a proclamation from the Colorado General Assembly condemning and apologizing for the lynching of Preston Porter Jr.
​
Chau Phan for helping with the DPS/EJI Essay Contest.
​
Alan Prendergast, Senior Contributor at Westword, for his article "Burned Alive: Facing up to Colorado's Grim History of Lynching," November 8-14, 2018, Volume 42, Number 10.
​
Ryan Warner, Colorado Public Radio, for his interview with Alan Prendergast, "Why People Are Honoring This Colorado Lynching Victim With A Soil Collection", which first aired on Colorado Public Radio, November 17, 2018.
​
Alan Roettinger, potter, for making the ceremonial bowl used in the Soil Collection Ceremony.
​
Mary Anderson for helping host the Soil Collection Ceremony in Limon.
​
Dave Russell, photographer, Buffalo Heart Images, for visually documenting the Soil Collection Ceremony.
​
Monica Davis, Research Services Coordinator at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence Kansas, for supplying vital genealogical and extensive newspaper material.
​
Shawn Leigh Alexander, Elizabeth D. Esch, and Eve Levin, at the University of Kansas, for research and contact leads.
Brent Campney of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Christopher Lovett of Emporia State University for background information on Preston Porter Jr.
Jason Hanson, Chief Creative Officer and Director of Interpretation and Research at History Colorado, who provided introductions to local museums and organizations.
Terry Nelson, Senior Special Collection and Community Resource Manager at Denver's Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library who worked with us to plan a ceremony and Soil Collection Exhibit at the library.
In organizing and publicizing the Equal Justice Initiative's essay contest, we have been helped by officials from Denver Public Schools [DPS] including Susan Olezene, Director of Science, Social Studies STEM and Worlds Languages and Bethany Smith, lead Curriculum Specialist for Social Studies.
Leslie Juniel, Senior Program Manager of Equity and Justice Initiatives on the Culture and Equity Leadership Team and Imani Morning, Program Manager of Training and Employee Development on the Culture and Equity Leadership Team who offered to provide information and support to students.
Celeste Archer, National History Day, Colorado, who provided possible resources for EJI's essay contest.
James Walsh, Professor of Political Science at CU Denver, who offered to arrange space at the university for the Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony.
Reverend Matt Holcomb who offered to plan and make travel arrangements for coalition members and others to visit the Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama.
​
Barry Ollman who helped with soil collection, the Soil Collection Exhibit, and with photography at Preston Porter Jr. events.