Dallas Historic Marker Vandalized

A historic marker in downtown Dallas acknowledging the site of a 1910 lynching was damaged recently.

Edward Gray, president of the Dallas County Justice Initiative, which oversaw the marker’s creation, told KERA the signage on the marker was removed and cut in half.

“It’s disappointing because whoever took the pains of shearing off the historical marker did a great job of it,” Gray said. “They knew exactly what they were doing because it’s cut off exactly at the base.”

Dallas police are investigating the incident.

Incident Report

Around 5:30 p.m. on May 23, officers took a vandalism report in the 1400 block of Main Street, officials said in an email to The Dallas Morning News.

“The preliminary investigation determined that City property had been damaged by unknown suspects,” the email read, adding that the incident “is not currently being investigated as a hate crime.”

Historical Context

In November 2021, the marker was unveiled at the intersection of Main and Akard streets, where over a century prior, 59-year-old handyman Allen Brooks was lynched.

Brooks had been accused of attempting to sexually assault a white child in a home where he had been employed to fix a furnace.

While he was awaiting legal proceedings at the Old Red Courthouse, a mob stormed the building. He was thrown from the second floor and dragged through the streets to the since-dismantled Elks Arch. He was then hanged from a telephone pole.

The graphic scene, which took place with a crowd of spectators, was photographed and used for a postcard.

Aftermath and Investigation

Dallas Park and Recreation has the damaged marker, according to Andrea Hawkins, a representative for the department.

Downtown Dallas Inc. employees found the plaque behind construction barricades on Akard Street, roughly 100 feet away from where it was affixed on a pedestal, on May 16, according to NBC-DFW (NBC5).

The marker cannot be repaired, Gray told NBC5. It will have to be replaced.

Gray hoped a new plaque could be installed by Juneteenth, but manufacturing delays have prolonged the timeline, he told KERA.

Meanwhile, building owners near the Main and Akard intersection are reviewing their cameras to see if footage may offer answers about the incident, according to NBC5. It’s currently unclear when the marker was removed or how.

Response and Reflection

In Gray’s view, justice will prevail.

“In the United States we are victims of whitewashing as well as brainwashing and this is what this story is about,” he told KERA. “This story is about making sure that it is not told as Black history, it is not told as Texas history, but it is told as American history.”

CORRECTION, 10:45 a.m., May 30, 2025: A previous version of this story misstated when the damage to the marker occurred.

Conclusion

The vandalism of the historic marker in downtown Dallas is a disheartening incident that highlights the ongoing challenges of preserving and honoring the city’s complex history. The marker’s damage serves as a painful reminder of the importance of acknowledging and learning from the past, rather than trying to erase or distort it. As the city moves forward with replacing the marker and investigating the incident, it is essential to prioritize education, awareness, and community engagement to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened to the historic marker in downtown Dallas?

A: The marker was vandalized, with the signage removed and cut in half.

Q: When did the incident occur?

A: The exact date of the incident is unclear, but a vandalism report was taken by officers on May 23.

Q: Is the incident being investigated as a hate crime?

A: No, the incident is not currently being investigated as a hate crime, according to the preliminary investigation.

Q: What is being done to replace the marker?

A: A new plaque is being manufactured, but delays have prolonged the timeline. It is hoped that the new marker can be installed by Juneteenth.