Nearly 70 years after an African-American woman from Alabama was gang-raped by a group of White men, state officials and the current mayor of the town where the crime happened have issued an apology.
According to the Associated Press, Abbeville, Ala. Mayor Ryan Blalock and State Rep. Dexter Grimsley at a March 21 news conference expressed their sorrow to 91-year-old Recy Taylor and her family members.
“I would like to extend a deep, heartfelt apology for the error we made in Alabama,” Grimsley said at the news conference, according to Gather News. “It was so unkind. We can’t stand around and say that it didn’t happen.”
In 1944, Taylor, then 24, was walking home from church when the married woman was abducted and raped by seven White men and left on the side of a barren road. Following the incident, officials declined to investigate the crime and bring charges. The police are alleged to have mismanaged the case and harassed Taylor.
After the press conference, Taylor’s brother Robert Corbitt told Colorlines News that his sister and his family still aren’t satisfied.
“While I’m pleased with the mayor’s apology, it’s nothing official. We were looking for an official one from the city, the state and the county,” Corbitt, told Colorlines’ Benjamin Greenberg. “I did hear the representative say he was get a resolution in to the state, but I never heard the mayor say that he was going to present it to the city council. He just said it must come from the city council. He never said anything about when he was do it.”
Grimsley said at the event that he would attempt to introduce a House resolution for a state apology to Taylor before the legislative session adjourns.
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Taylor’s story generated national attention following the release of the book, “At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape and Resistance,” which details her story. Shortly thereafter, social activist Web site Change.org issued a petition demanding an official apology. As of March 25, the site has received more than 15,680 signatures.