The Legacy of James Taylor, Chestertown, Md.

Philip Dutton • May 10, 2022


On May 12, 1892, a Kent County farmer’s daughter was assaulted in the kitchen of the family’s farm. James Taylor, a laborer on that farm, was accused of the crime. Mr. Taylor was a 23-year-old Black man.

 

Two days later, a mob of masked men dragged Mr. Taylor from the county jail, which was located next door to the courthouse in Chestertown. The newspaper reported that a crowd of 500 witnessed these men dragging Taylor to a small maple tree on the other side of Cross Street where they hanged him. Even though some of the lynchers had met with town officials the day before to discuss their intentions and there were 500 eyewitnesses, no one reportedly knew any of the men involved in the lynching.

 

James Taylor never had a chance to stand trial for his alleged crime; the presumption of innocence followed him to the grave. James Taylor maintained his innocence until the last hour of his life. When a Baltimore Sun reporter asked him if he was guilty, he replied, “No, sir, I am an innocent man and I am not afraid to say so even while I am expecting to meet my God in a few minutes.” Mr. Taylor was buried in the pauper’s graveyard and that was the end of it. Until now.

 

After the Civil War, racial terror reigned across our country — and not just in the South. The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has documented 6,500 lynchings in the U.S. between 1865 and World War II. This includes 38 documented lynchings in Maryland. As EJI states, “The lynching of African Americans was terrorism, a widely supported campaign to enforce racial subordination and segregation.”

 

Uniquely in the United States, Maryland has acted to acknowledge, research, and work toward reconciliation for the lynchings that occurred in our state. The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Law (HB 307) was unanimously passed by both houses of the legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Hogan in February 2019. This law authorizes a state commission to research cases of racially motivated lynchings and to hold public meetings and regional hearings where a lynching of an African American by a white mob was documented.

 

In response to HB 307, the James Taylor Justice Coalition (JTJC) was formed in July 2019. A special committee of Sumner Hall, Chestertown, its membership includes a diverse group of citizens, including several Sumner Hall board members. The JTJC is dedicated to educating our community about the injustice of James Taylor’s 1892 lynching and making the connection between racial terror lynchings of the past and convict leasing, peonage, mass incarceration, incidents of police brutality and discrimination of today. Taylor’s guilt or innocence of the crime for which he was accused is irrelevant to JTJC’s mission. Mr. Taylor was denied a fair trial and justice under the laws of our land.

 

To advance its mission, JTJC:

  • installed an exhibit at the Historical Society of Kent County about James Taylor’s story and the implications it has for life in today’s Kent County;
  • offered a virtual book club that discussed Sherrilyn Ifill’s acclaimed book, On the Courthouse Lawn;
  • became an active member of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project, and an implementing partner of the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
  • produced Justice Day 2021;
  • conducted an essay contest, co-sponsored by EJI, at the Kent County High School which challenged students in grades 9 – 12 to reflect on the impact of racial and social injustice in their lives. 

 

Upcoming Events

 

  • Justice Day 2022. A second Justice Day will take place on May 14, from 1 to 3pm. This year the program will feature the announcement of the essay contest winners and the awarding of prize money by a representative of the Equal Justice Initiative. Excerpts of the winning essays will be read by the students. Justice Day will also include musical and spoken word performances. Finally, an EJI Community Remembrance Project Soil Collection ceremony will be conducted. The Community Soil Collection Project helps to publicly memorialize the traumatic era of racial terror by collecting soil from lynching sites in America. Glass containers will be filled with dirt from the site of the lynching of James Taylor. These will be displayed at Sumner Hall and at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

  • Civil Rights Bus Tour. JTJC of Sumner Hall is partnering with Minary’s Dream Alliance to sponsor a six-day bus tour to significant civil rights sites in Alabama and Georgia on July 25-30, 2022. In addition to delivering the community remembrance jar of soil to EJI’s Legacy Museum, those on the tour will visit sites in Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery, and Atlanta, including the Civil Rights Institute, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Edmund Pettus Bridge, National Voting Rights Museum, Legacy Museum, National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, The King Center, Tomb of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Tickets for this trip will be available to the public by May 20, 2022. Fundraising is currently underway to provide scholarships for 30 young people. To register for the trip or to contribute to the scholarship fund, go to Sumner Hall’s website.


  • Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission Regional Hearing. The commission is holding hearings across the state of Maryland in every county where a lynching took place. The first one was held in Allegany County, and one is planned for Chestertown later in 2022. These hearings are designed to gather information about the events, hear from descendants of victims and perpetrators, and solicit input and ideas about reconciliation and healing. JTJC will assist the commission with this hearing.


The JTJC welcomes active participation by everyone in our community. If you are interested in learning more and helping with our work, please email us kentco.mdlp@gmail.com or info@sumnerhall.org.

 

In the words of a member of the Community Remembrance Project Coalition of Chattanooga, Tennessee, “There can be no reconciliation and healing without remembering the past.” The James Taylor Justice Coalition is committed to acknowledging the injustice of James Taylor’s murder and working toward equity for all citizens of Kent County.

 

 

Philip Dutton, born in Louisiana, is Co-Chair of the James Taylor Justice Coalition and a community activist and promotor of racial justice. He is also a talented keyboard artist and he and his band, The Alligators, perform often in the area with their brand of lively Zydeco music.


Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

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By Jan Plotczyk • October 8, 2025
The Republican Congress and President Trump are causing a health care crisis and Democrats are trying to fix it. Passed in July, the GOP budget reconciliation bill is drastically cutting health insurance programs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-MD01) voted for the budget reconciliation bill. He voted, knowing that his vote would mean that health care costs would rise for 25,000 of his constituents in Maryland’s First Congressional District:

Judge Denies Trump Administration’s Attempt to Stall Maryland Offshore Wind Case Amid Federal Shutdown

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
 Efforts by the Trump administration to delay a critical court case over Maryland’s offshore wind project have failed, marking another setback in the president’s campaign to block renewable energy development along the East Coast. On Oct. 2, U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher denied a motion filed by the Department of Justice to pause an ongoing lawsuit involving US Wind’s proposed 114-turbine wind farm off Ocean City. The administration had argued that the federal government’s shutdown prevents its attorneys from continuing the case. The judge’s swift rejection ensures that the litigation and progress on one of Maryland’s most significant clean energy projects will continue. Initially filed by Ocean City officials and a small group of residents nearly a year ago, the suit challenges the federal approval of US Wind’s project, which would deliver enough clean electricity to power more than 700,000 homes. Under the Biden administration, the federal government had defended the project in partnership with US Wind. That stance was reversed after Trump took office earlier this year and installed officials hostile to offshore wind. In September, the Trump administration filed a separate motion seeking to vacate federal approval for the Maryland project altogether, a move widely condemned by environmental advocates, labor groups, and business leaders who see offshore wind as a cornerstone of Maryland’s energy and economic future. US Wind responded forcefully to the shutdown motion, warning the court that the administration’s attempts to delay proceedings could allow it to undermine the project’s approval behind the scenes quietly. The company argued that halting the case would create “existential risks” for the future of Maryland’s offshore wind industry. Judge Gallagher agreed that the case should move forward, setting the next status hearing for Oct. 7. The Trump administration’s repeated efforts to obstruct offshore wind development come as Maryland and other states have invested heavily in building the infrastructure, workforce, and port facilities needed to anchor the growing clean energy industry. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has championed the sector as a key driver for well-paying jobs and long-term economic resilience for the Eastern Shore. Supporters of US Wind point out that the project will bring over $1 billion in investment to Maryland, generate thousands of construction and maintenance jobs, and help deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to homes and businesses across the region. “Offshore wind isn’t just about turbines, it’s about jobs, innovation, and independence,” one clean energy advocate said after the ruling. “Every delay costs working Marylanders opportunity, and this decision ensures progress continues.” While the broader lawsuit over the project’s approval is ongoing, the latest ruling represents a clear win for those fighting to keep Maryland’s offshore wind future on track — and a blow to Trump’s attempt to turn back the clock on clean energy.

Should We Pin Our Hopes on Mid-Cycle Redistricting in MD-01?

By Jan Plotczyk • October 8, 2025
Maryland has eight congressional districts, and the seats for all but District 01 are filled by Democrats. As we well know, the First District representative is a Republican — Andrew P. Harris. Here’s what Maryland’s congressional district map is now.

Megan Outten Kicks Off Wicomico County Council District 7 Campaign with Packed Crowd and Strong Early Momentum

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
With standing room only at Salisbury’s Historic Poplar Hill Mansion, and blending policy, community service, and grassroots energy, Megan Outten launched her campaign for Wicomico County Council District 7 before almost 100 supporters on Oct. 4. The event drew community residents, labor leaders, and local officials, many of whom also helped to pack nearly 300 care kits for Wicomico residents in need. The community service effort doubled as a campaign statement about what Outten calls “choosing connection over convenience.” District 7 is one of Wicomico’s newly drawn single-member districts, with a Democratic advantage of 7.7%. Outten recalled her family’s history of service in Fruitland and Salisbury. “Service isn’t just politics in my family,” she said. “It’s how you belong to a place. It’s how you prove you care.” She pointed to the county’s landfill crisis, water and septic system failures, and school underfunding as examples of leadership that reacts rather than plans. “This is what happens when leaders only react after things break,” she said. “It costs us more. It hurts families. It robs our kids of the future they deserve.” Outten was joined by several local leaders who offered strong endorsements and reflections on her record. AFSCME Local 3 Eastern Shore representative Jack Hughes praised her leadership on the Salisbury City Council, crediting her with helping pass the Eastern Shore’s first municipal labor code, a significant win for city workers and first responders. Councilman Josh Hastings, who represents the district and is running for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B, said Outten would be “crucial in carrying forward the progress we’ve made” on clean water, schools, and infrastructure planning. Whitney Snowden-Olanrewaju from Blending Cultures, a non-profit organization that promotes diversity and equality, spoke about Outten’s record of community inclusion and bridge-building across diverse groups. Outten’s campaign is expected to roll out additional endorsements in the coming weeks. In her speech, she outlined a platform focused on fully funding schools, investing in infrastructure before it fails, and ensuring that county government works for everyone. “This campaign is not mine,” she told the crowd. “It’s ours. I am not standing above you. I am standing with you. And together, we will put Wicomico families first.” With enthusiasm, endorsements, and her message that’s focused on service and accountability, Outten’s kickoff reinforced that District 7 is already shaping up to have a strong favorite in 2026.

Community Rallies After Theft of Car Containing Hundreds of Care Kits for Wicomico Residents in Need

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
An act of inhumanity in Salisbury has sparked an outpouring of compassion. Early on Oct. 5, community organizer Jared Schablein’s car was stolen from his backyard. Inside the vehicle were hundreds of care kits assembled just days earlier during Megan Outten’s Wicomico County Council District 7 campaign kickoff event. Packed by volunteers at Salisbury’s Poplar Hill Mansion, the kits contained feminine hygiene products, socks, and toiletries meant for Wicomico County residents facing housing insecurity. “Those kits were meant for neighbors in need,” said Schablein. “If nothing else, I hope whoever took them returns them. Getting those care kits to the folks who need them matters more to me than anything else.” Schablein and Outten have turned the theft into action, launching a new effort called the “Care Kits Comeback Drive.” The event, scheduled for Oct. 12 at 2pm at Poplar Hill Mansion, aims to replace every lost kit, and more. Volunteers are asked to bring or donate items such as sanitary wipes, socks, toothpaste, period products, and underwear. Donations will support the Wicomico County Library, Help and Outreach Point of Entry, and other local service organizations. In announcing the new drive, Schablein emphasized the deeper meaning behind the effort: “When acts of inhumanity happen, the best response is acts of humanity. We’re showing that Salisbury’s compassion can’t be stolen.” Despite the setback, organizers say community support has been overwhelming. Donations began arriving within hours of the announcement, and several local groups have offered to distribute supplies once the new kits are complete. The theft is still under investigation by the Salisbury Police Department. As one volunteer put it at the last event, “Community isn’t guaranteed, it’s built.” This Sunday, Salisbury will build it again.

Momentum Builds to Save Connelly Mill Park: Community Leaders and State Officials Unite Around Vision for Wicomico’s “Central Park”

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
What began as a grassroots campaign to preserve a parcel of local land has become one of the most inspiring community movements on the Eastern Shore. Led by residents James and Mikele Dahlen and Holly Campbell, alongside dozens of volunteers, the Save Connelly Mill Park effort reached a significant milestone last week as Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz toured the site with local and state officials to explore opportunities for partnership and permanent protection. On Sept. 23, citizens gathered at Connelly Mill Park with a delegation of state and county leaders, including Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Del. Barry Beauchamp, County Council President John Cannon, Vice President Jeff Merritt, Councilman James Winn, and local municipal representatives from Delmar and Salisbury. The tour marked the strongest signal to date that the state may play an active role in turning the park’s long-promised vision into reality. Advocates for Save Connelly Mill Park presented Kurtz with a booklet outlining the site’s environmental, historical, and economic importance. The presentation highlighted Connelly Mill’s potential to become a keystone of Wicomico’s park system — protecting the Paleochannel aquifer, preserving wildlife habitats, and providing much-needed green space for recreation and community gathering. Located just five miles from Salisbury, the 234-acre property has rolling forest, wetlands, and unique topography that advocates say could one day make it the “Central Park of Wicomico County.” “The natural beauty of Connelly Mill spoke for itself,” said one organizer after the event. “What we have here is not just land, it’s a promise to future generations.” Adding to the momentum, the community’s advocacy materials were presented directly to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore the next day at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield, where he was briefed on the citizens’ efforts and growing local support. The proposed park would provide walking trails, open space for families, and educational opportunities while safeguarding vital water resources and promoting mental, physical, and social well-being for county residents. For many, the movement to save Connelly Mill has come to represent more than just one park. It’s about accountability, long-term planning, and ensuring public commitments to community spaces are kept. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” the group shared in a recent update. “But the spotlight is on Connelly Mill, and the momentum is growing.” As the state evaluates whether to designate Connelly Mill as a Partnership Park, supporters say they will continue to meet with officials and rally community engagement to ensure this once-forgotten project finally fulfills its promise. If realized, Connelly Mill would not only protect vital natural resources — it would stand as testament to what determined citizens can build when they refuse to give up.
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