WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Americus Group Believes Woman was Wrongly Executed 60-Years Ago
Member Center:
Lena Baker, the only woman to die in Georgia 's electric chair, was honored at a gravesite memorial Saturday in Cuthbert , Georgia at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.
Baker was executed March 5, 1945 , at Georgia penitentiary in Reidsville. John Cole Vodicka, director of the Prison & Jail Project, an organization in Americus , Ga. , that speaks out about civil rights abuse of prisoners.
He said Baker was a victim of racial injustice in the judicial system.
"This black woman who was wrongfully prosecuted and executed because she was defending herself against a white man who repeatedly sexually abused her," Cole Vodicka said. "Lena Baker was tried without proper legal representation."
Vodicka said Baker killed a white man in March 1945, who tried to rape her. He said Baker final words were, “I did in self-defense, or I would have killed myself..."
Baker was convicted by an all white male jury in a one-day trail.
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. Notify us of any inappropriate comments by clicking the “Mark as Offensive” link. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
