Day of Conversation/Commemoration of Clinton, MS Race Massacre

CLINTON, MS

Sept. 12

Event Title
	Day of Conversation/Commemoration of Clinton, MS Race Massacre
When does it start?
	09/12/2026 @ 9 a.m. CT
When does it end?
	09/12/2026 @ 3 p.m. CT
Event Host and/or Location
	Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
What kind of event is it?
	Day of Conversation/Commemoration
Event Details
	The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and the Episcopal Church of the Creator, Clinton, announce a day of commemoration of the lives of persons lost in Clinton in September 1875 after violence erupted during a political gathering in Clinton attended by white citizens and newly emancipated black citizens who had only recently gained the right to vote. This day of commemoration will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., as Bishop Dorothy Sanders Wells presents her workshop, “The History of Us,” on the campus of Mississippi Christian University in Clinton, on the third floor of Alumni Hall. The workshop will include a special focus on Clinton and the lives lost there. The September 1875 deaths and the killing of many more Black citizens in the days that followed became part of a larger movement that helped bring Reconstruction in Mississippi to an end and, ultimately, led to laws designed to disenfranchise Black voters. Clinton’s story, however, did not end there. In later generations, Clinton became a national model for successful school desegregation, demonstrating what can happen when a community chooses to work together toward a healthier common life. What can we learn from Clinton—both from the painful parts of our history and from the ways people have found a better path forward? Drawing from her doctoral work, Bishop Wells invites participants to explore our shared history through the Christian call to love our neighbors, recognize the image of God in one another, respect the dignity of every human being, and make room for every voice in the telling of our common story. The public is invited to attend this important and hopeful day of remembering, learning, and imagining how we might continue building a healthier life together. There is no cost for the workshop or lunch. Please register at rsvp.mc.2026@gmail.com and include any dietary restrictions.