Limmud Toronto 2021

1906 in the southern United States brought with it the Atlanta Race Riots. Incensed by scandalous (and likely false) accounts of four rapes of white women by black men, thousands of white Atlantans rioted and targeted black businesses, homes, and people. And so, when 7 years later 17 year old Grace Hicks’ white body was found in an Atlanta pencil factory, the police – the entire police force was white at that time – did what they generally did in Georgi … they arrested a Negro. Within a week over 200 people were questioned, often held for long periods of time, shackled and beaten. When they couldn’t find enough evidence to bring anyone to trial the police looked elsewhere – and put the Jewish superintendent of the factory – Leo M. Frank - on trial. Some say that perhaps no 20th century trial had more far-reaching effects on American society. Now largely forgotten, in its day it was on everyone’s lips from coast to coast and from quiet streets into the Oval Office. Come hear the story of this heinous trial and find out what lasting effect it has had.