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Lake County moves forward with Groveland Four monument

Dedication would be located at courthouse in Tavares

TAVARES, Fla. – Lake County officials decided to move forward with a plan to build a monument-style plaque for the Groveland Four.

A meeting was held Tuesday to discuss the memorial, which would be located at the historic courthouse in Tavares.  

Earnest Thomas, Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepard and Walter Irvin -- the so-called Groveland Four -- are all dead.

Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis pardoned the four African-American men, 70 years after they were falsely accused of raping a 17-year-old white woman in Lake County. 

"We felt it was appropriate to use that as a chance to tell the story and honor the people that were the victims in this situation and make a firm statement that this is a thing in the past and this is not Lake County today," Lake County Board Chairman Leslie Campione said.

Officials will gather feedback from families and find a company to construct the monument, a proposal of which can be seen below.

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Watch News 6 and check back at ClickOrlando.com for updates.

 


About the Author

Cathleigh is a newscast producer and has been with News 6 since 2014. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in communications, with a focus in broadcast journalism. Cathleigh produces the 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. newscasts.

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