© 2024 Central Florida Public Media. All Rights Reserved.
90.7 FM Orlando • 89.5 FM Ocala
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King shares his perspective on the latest in the Groveland Four case

By Joe Byrnes
Published November 22, 2021 at 1:42 AM EST
From left, Walter Irvin, Charles Greenlee, and Samuel Shepherd were wrongfully prosecuted for rape in 1949. A fourth man, Ernest Thomas, was killed during a manhunt before he could be arrested. Photo: Gary Corsair
From left, Walter Irvin, Charles Greenlee, and Samuel Shepherd were wrongfully prosecuted for rape in 1949. A fourth man, Ernest Thomas, was killed during a manhunt before he could be arrested. Photo: Gary Corsair

A judge in Lake County will hold a hearing today on whether to posthumously clear the names of the Groveland Four.

The young Black men were wrongly prosecuted -- and two of them were shot to death -- following the alleged rape of a 17-year-old white girl in 1949.

For some perspective on this case, WMFE's Joe Byrnes spoke with Gilbert King, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Devil in the Grove" brought the story to national attention again.

[audio mp3="https://www.wmfe.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/GILBERTKING.mp3"][/audio]

.
Tags
Central Florida Newsgroveland four
Joe Byrnes
Joe Byrnes came to Central Florida Public Media from the Ocala Star-Banner and The Gainesville Sun, where he worked as a reporter and editor for several years. Joe graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and turned to journalism after teaching. He enjoys freshwater fishing and family gatherings.
See stories by Joe Byrnes
Journalistic Ethics Code
Read The Guidelines
Public Media Code of Integrity
Read More Details