Leo Frank And George Zimmerman
About this time one hundred years ago, Leo Frank was convicted of murdering Mary Phagan. Within two years, with the sentence commuted to life imprisonment, some people kidnapped him from a state prison. Leo Frank was taken to Marietta, and hung from an oak tree.
George Zimmerman is the object of the mob’s fury today. The two cases are different. There is little doubt that Mr. Zimmerman fired the weapon, that killed Trayvon Martin. There is considerable doubt about the guilt of Leo Frank. Much of the venom directed at Mr. Frank was because he was Jewish. Trayvon Martin was the unpopular minority in the current case.
The common thread in the two cases is media fueled demands for vengeance. The Supreme Court took note of this in the Frank case. “Mob law does not become due process of law by securing the assent of a terrorized jury.”
Tom Watson was one of the leading rabble rousers in Mr. Frank’s case. A politician and newspaper owner, Mr. Watson led the anti semitic charge. Today, a large bronze statue of Tom Watson is in front of the west side of the State Capitol. This side is the site for rallies.Tom Watson is seen shaking a finger behind the speakers stand.
So far, the mob has not executed George Zimmerman. It is not out of the question. Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives,Georgia State University Library”. UPDATE This is a repost. George Zimmerman is still with us, for better or worse. The venegence mob focus has shifted to Darren Wilson. Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown are still dead. The statue of Tom Watson has been moved to an undisclosed location.
Chamblee54 
And the thing is no one who helped kidnap Mr. Frank or participated in the lynching was ever held accountable. It caused a lengthy era where Jews in this region were afraid to be seen as Jews or much of anything as Jews because they knew that the populace didn’t like Jews (at least those who were in power or who were vocal – the silent majority (if it was such) was just that – silent). This was further proven by the bombing of The Temple in the 1950’s and the reaction of southern Jews to those who were helping blacks get the right to vote which the southern powers that be cheerfully did all they could to avoid having happen.
Leo Frank was lynched by the leading citizens of Marietta. George Zimmerman is a free man though he admittedly killed Trayvon Martin. Darren Wilson, who admittedly killed Michael Brown, is also free as of now. The protests are not demands for vengeance, but for justice…for a world where black people are not killed with impunity.
I love the pics…
The three cases have a lot of differences, as noted in the post. The thing to watch out for is allowing popular opinion to determine criminal affairs. Justice is not a popularity contest.