MABEL NORRIS REESE TRIBUTE FUND
HOW MABEL MADE A DIFFERENCE...
The courage of Mabel Norris Reese may have been forgotten had it not been for 'Devil in the Grove', Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize-winning book that recounted a tragedy that occurred in Lake County, Florida. Accused of a raping a white woman, black suspects who became known as "The Groveland Four" were victims of the time -- and victims of Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall. One, Ernest Green, was killed by a posse before he could stand trial. The others (Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Charles Greenlee) were imprisoned and brutally tortured by McCall and his deputies to coerce confessions.
Reese, owner and editor of the small town Mount Dora Topic newspaper (read David Cohea's article here), initially sided with McCall. But when he murdered Sammy Shepherd and wounded Walter Irvin by claiming the handcuffed prisoners had tried to escape, Reese realized she had been an unwitting accomplice in his reign of terror. Despite threats to her life and her livelihood which found the KKK detonating two bombs at her home, burning a cross in her lawn, poisoning her dog, and launching a rival newspaper to drive her out of business, she spent the remainder of her career dedicated to holding the corrupt sheriff, deputies, judges, and attorneys to task. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her persistent attempts to gain justice for the Platt family, whose children were suspected of being "negroes" and, therefore, forced out of Mount Dora's public schools. Despite McCall's wrath, she continued to write articles in support of the two surviving Groveland Boys until they were released from prison. Concurrently, she continued to write articles and form alliances with politicians and attorneys to find justice for Jesse Daniels, a mentally disabled 19-year old who spent fourteen years in the state hospital for the insane after McCall, with the aid of local judges and attorneys, framed him for rape.
This page will note developments related to the efforts of the Mabel Norris Reese Tribute Fund, Inc. which was formed to monies for the creation of a bust of Mabel Norris Reese to be placed on public display in Mount Dora. It will be a visible reminder of the need to protect a free press, of how the written word can bring justice to unjust situations, and to honor the courage of a woman who couldn't be intimidated.
Learn more about Mabel Norris Reese and the stories that led to change.
As part of Lake County's past was brought to light, citizens across the county, across the state, and across the nation began working to correct past injustices. More than half a century after the Groveland Four were convicted, the Platt children barred from public schools, and Jesse Daniels imprisoned in a mental institution, the work of Mabel Norris Reese continues to make the news.
Mabel inducted into the Lake County Women's Hall of Fame
On December 4, 2018 the Lake County Board of County Commissioners unanimously inducted Mabel Norris Reese into the Lake County Women's Hall of Fame. The nomination, made by Constance Albright and Nancy Hurlbert, was supported by a personal letter from author Gilbert King who later said, "She was a trailblazer. She devoted her life to doing what was right at such a great cost to her, and it is right she be commended.”
Commentary: Courageous newspaperwoman Mabel Norris Reese being nominated for Women's Hall of Fame in Lake County.
Lake Sentinel • Lauren Ritchie • August 27, 2018
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-newspaperwoman-mabel-reese-hall-of-fame-20180823-story.html
Mabel Norris Reese Set to be Inducted into Lake County Women's Hall of Fame
Lake Sentinel • Jerry Fallstrom • November 26, 2018
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-lk-lake-county-womens-hall-of-fame-20181126-story.html
Journalist Mabel Norris Reese Inducted in Women's Hall of Fame
(Leesburg) Daily Commercial • Roxanne Brown • December 4, 2018
https://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20181204/journalist-mabel-norris-reese-inducted-into-womens-hof
Daily Commercial Women's Hall of Fame Video:
Commentary: Lake County Commissioner diminishes journalist's accomplishments with watered-down version of history
Lake Sentinel • Lauren Ritchie • December 10, 2018
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/lauren-ritchie/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-mabel-reese-hall-of-fame-20181206-story.html
Groveland Four: Apologies & Pardons
Through persistent and consistent efforts by the families of Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee, and Ernest Thomas (The Groveland Four), as well as evidence presented by authors Gilbert King and Gary Corsair and the support of determined politicians and private citizens seeking justice, the Groveland Four have received apologies from Lake County communities, local newspapers and, on January 11, 2019, pardons from State of Florida. It's worth noting that pardons imply a crime had been committed, which is why efforts for full exonerations are underway.
To the Community and Families of the Groveland Four: We're Sorry
Editorial, Orlando Sentinel • January 10, 2019
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/editorials/os-op-orlando-sentinel-apologizes-groveland-four-20190109-story.html
Groveland Four Get Justice 70 Years Later
Orlando Sentinel • Stephen Hudak, Ryan Gillespie, Beth Kassab and Gray Rohrer • January 11, 2019
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-groveland-four-families-pardon-20190109-story.html
Accused of Florida Rape 70 Years Ago, 4 Black Men Get Posthumous Pardons
National Public Radio • Ian Stewart • January 11, 2019
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/11/684540515/accused-of-florida-rape-70-years-ago-4-black-men-get-posthumous-pardons
'Miscarriage of Justice': Florida Finally Pardons Four Black Men Accused of Rape in 1949
Washington Post • Katie Mettler Brown • January 11, 2019
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/01/11/years-after-miscarriage-justice-florida-pardons-four-black-men-accused-rape-by-white-woman/?utm_term=.09f8e3f97aad
Florida Governor Pardons Groveland Four, Wrongly Convicted of Rape in 1949
CNN • Amir Vera • January 11, 2019
https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/11/us/florida-groveland-four-pardon/index.html
Florida Pardons the Groveland Four, 70 Years After Jim Crow-Era Rape Case
New York Times • Jacey Fortin • January 11, 2019
Florida Pardons Groveland Four: 'This was a miscarriage of Justice'
Tampa Bay Times • Samantha J. Gross • January 11, 2019
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/01/11/florida-pardons-groveland-four-this-was-a-miscarriage-of-justice/
Editorial: Finally, a Pardon for the Groveland Four
Tampa Bay Times • Editorial Board • January 11, 2019
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-finally-a-pardon-for-the-groveland-four-20190111/
Florida Pardons Groveland Four: 'This was a miscarriage of Justice'
Tampa Bay Times • Samantha J. Gross • January 11, 2019
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/01/11/florida-pardons-groveland-four-this-was-a-miscarriage-of-justice/
Groveland Four Pardons came too late for Four Innocent Black Men:
Miami Herald • Bea Hines • January 16, 2019
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/community-voices/article224640275.html
DeSantis, Florida Cabinet, pardon four black men, known as Groveland Four, accused of 1949 Rape
USA Today • Brendan Farington • January 11, 2019
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/11/groveland-four-desantis-florida-pardon-black-men-accused-rape/2550190002/
Florida Pardons Wrongly Accused Groveland Four after 70 Years
BBC • January 12, 2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46847001
Groveland Four Granted Pardons by Clemency Board
WESH-TV • January 11, 2019
https://www.wesh.com/article/groveland-four-granted-pardons-by-clemency-board/25857753
Groveland Four Pardoned Decades After False Rape Claim
CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/groveland-four-pardoned-decades-after-false-rape-claim/
ADDITIONAL READING
Tribute Fund Board of Directors
Gary McKechnie
Nancy Howell
Gilbert King
Bob Kealing
Crissy Stile