Names of at least three people Newberry Six — a group of African Americans lynched more than a century ago — were found painted in front of the new Publix on West Newberry Road in apparent protest of its proximity to the lynching site.

A Publix roadside sign read “Gilbert and Mary Dennis were here,” and a storage container on the property at the corner of West Newberry Road and County Road 235 read “Stella Young was here.”

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According to historical records, the Newberry murders began after an African American man named Boisy Long was accused of stealing a pig in August 1916. Dr. LG Harris and Officer George Wynne attempted to arrest Long, but he allegedly shot at both men and fled. Wynne was fatally wounded and Harris was shot but survived.

The Newberry Six were killed because authorities believed they helped Long escape.

James Dennis was fatally shot. GilBert and Mary Dennis, Stella Young, Reverend Josh Baskin, and Andrew McHenry were jailed and then taken by a mob to the Newberry picnic grounds (West Newberry Road and CR 235) and lynched.

Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Alachua County Community Memorial Project team leader, said he first heard about the vandalism Sunday morning. He said the city’s truth and reconciliation earth ceremonies and installation of historical markers are on property owned by Gwendlyn Hunt, just west of Publix.

“I’m a little confused by this because Newberry’s truth and reconciliation work is going pretty well, without the need for vandalism or anything like that. It’s not like Newberry is hiding from any of this history. Newberry is the first town in Alachua. Marlow said the county is committed to truth and reconciliation.” “He wanted him to be busy,” he said. “… We have done as much, if not more, work than anyone else in the county to bring these issues to light.

“I’m heartbroken that Publix is ​​involved in this conversation, and I worry about what it means the next time we try to hold an event for truth and reconciliation. Will the community still be this welcoming?”

This article first appeared in The Gainesville Sun: Names of Newberry Six lynching victims painted on the outside of Newberry Publix