LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) - East Texans gathered near Gregg County Courthouse in Longview on Thursday to unveil a historical marker remembering a dark moment in the city's past.

In 1919, anti-Black race riots, now called the Red Summer, broke out across the country and in Longview. From July 10 to July 20 of that year, race riots broke out in Longview and led to the death of Lemuel Walters and the burning down of several Black homes, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

"Everyone's story needs to be told. It's important so that we know where we've come from, so that we can heal through it," 1919 Longview Remembrance Project co-founder Alicia Johnson said on Thursday. "As a mental health professional, I know the value of unpacking and then healing through discussion and coupl

See Full Page