Introduction

The story you’re about to hear transpired over 84 days and represents one of the greatest travesties in the history of the American criminal justice system. It centers around George Stinney Jr., a 14-year-old boy, who became a victim of racial injustice and white supremacy.

1. The Innocent Beginning

March 24, 1944:

• George Stinney Jr.: A 14-year-old, 90-pound Black boy, playing with his sister.
• Encounter: Two little white girls ride up on their bikes, asking where they could pick some flowers. George and his sister say they don’t know, and the girls ride off.

2. The Disappearance and Arrest

Later that Night:

• Search Party: The girls don’t return home, prompting a search party that includes George.
• Discovery: The next day, the girls’ bodies are found by a shallow creek.
• Arrest: George mentions to the adults that he and his sister had seen the girls earlier. He is immediately arrested for their murders.

3. Immediate Consequences

Fallout:

• Family Impact: George’s father is fired, and the family is forced to leave town due to death threats, leaving George behind in a South Carolina jail.

4. Mob Justice

March 26, 1944:

• Lynching Threat: A mob of white people gathers at the jail, ready to lynch George, but he is moved to a different location.

5. The Sham Trial

April 24, 1944:

• Courtroom Injustice: George is in the courtroom alone, as Black people are not allowed. His lawyer offers no defense and calls no witnesses.
• Prosecution: The only evidence is the sheriff’s unsubstantiated claim that George confessed. No documentation supports this.
• Rapid Verdict: The trial lasts two hours, and the all-white jury deliberates for ten minutes before finding George guilty and sentencing him to death by electric chair.

6. The Execution

June 16, 1944:

• Youngest Executed: George becomes the youngest person executed in American history.
• Gruesome Details: He is barely five feet tall and less than 100 pounds. Too small for the electric chair, he is made to sit on books. The convulsions from his body knock the mask off, revealing his face.

7. Posthumous Exoneration

70 Years Later:

• Case Reopened: The case is reopened, and George is exonerated. It is confirmed he was wrongfully convicted.
• Legacy: As of 2024, George Stinney Jr. remains the youngest person executed in American history. He was only 14 years old.

Conclusion

The tragic tale of George Stinney Jr. serves as a stark reminder of the injustices faced by Black individuals in the American criminal justice system. His wrongful conviction and execution highlight the dire consequences of racial prejudice and the importance of continuing the fight for justice and equality.