What is Lynching of Jesse Washington?
[[File:Lynching of Jesse Washington, 1916 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Washington hanging from a tree after being severely burned]]{{Infobox event|title=LYNCHING OF JESSE WASHINGTON|name=JESSE WASHINGTON|date=May 15th 1916, 106 years ago}} '''Jesse Washington''' was [[Lynching|lynched]] in [[Waco, Texas]], on May 15, 1916. Washington was a [[teenager|teenage]] [[African American]] who worked on a farm. The event became a well-known example of [[racism|racially]] [[wikt:motive|motivated]] lynching. Washington was accused of [[rape|raping]] and [[murder|killing]] Lucy Fryer. Fryer was the wife of Washington's white boss in [[rural]] [[Robinson, Texas]]. No one saw Washington commit the crime. During his [[wikt:interrogation|interrogation]] by the McLennan County [[sheriff]], he signed a [[wikt:confession|confession]] and described the location of the [[weapon]] used to kill Fryer. Washington was [[trial|tried]] for murder in Waco. There were [[wikt:furious|angry]] locals in the courtroom.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=63}} Washington [[plead]]ed [[guilty]] and was quickly sentenced to death.{{sfn|SoRelle|2007|pp=188–9}}{{sfn|SoRelle|2007|pp=189–91}} Washington was dragged out of the court by [[wikt:observers|observers]] and lynched in front of Waco's [[city hall]].{{sfn|SoRelle|2007|pp=189–91}} Over 10,000 people, including city officials and police, gathered to watch the attack. People enjoyed the attack, many children attended the event. Members of the [[mob]] removed his [[testicles]], cut off his fingers, and hung him over a [[bonfire]].{{sfn|SoRelle|2007|pp=189–91}} Washington was lowered and raised over the fire for about two hours. The fire was [[wikt:extinguished|extinguished]] and his burnt [[torso]] was dragged through the town. Parts of his body were sold as [[wikt:souvenirs|souvenirs]].{{sfn|SoRelle|2007|pp=189–91}} Pictures of the event were taken by a professional [[photographer]].{{sfn|Wood|2009|p=179}} This provided rare pictures of a lynching while the event was going on.{{sfn|Bernstein|2006|p=3}} Thes