A vigil was held for 15-year-old Preston John Porter Jr. who was lynched near Limon in 1900
DENVER (KDVR) — A vigil was held on Saturday night for a 15-year-old who was lynched outside of Limon on Nov. 16, 1900.
Preston John Porter Jr. was a black 15-year-old who worked as a railroad worker in Limon in 1900. Porter Jr. was accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a local white girl, Louise Frost, who was discovered in a ravine with stab wounds by a search party. She later succumbed to those wounds. Her father, R.W. Frost, was a prominent rancher in the area.
Porter Jr. confessed to the crime to Denver investigators who reportedly used extreme coercion to provoke a confession, including telling the 15-year-old his father and brother would be lynched if he did not confess. There has never been any evidence connecting Porter Jr. to the crime, according to History Colorado and the Colorado Encyclopedia.
On Nov. 16, 1900, a mob of white people angry with the crime, abducted Porter Jr. in Limon before chaining him to a vertical steel rail, hanging a rope around his neck and burning him alive.
This incident occurred amid a year that saw over 100 black people lynched nationwide, according to a study by Bloomberg.
The vigil for Porter Jr. was held at the CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning.
Before the vigil started, an educational program was held alongside a discussion to learn about the history of racial lynching in Colorado and the racial injustice that people still face in 2024.
Porter Jr. was honored with a speech by Rev. Dr. Lee Butler and poetry performed by Jovan Mays. The Denver Police Department Chief was also in attendance.
Following the pre-vigil events, attendees moved outside to the nearby historical marker placed to remember Porter Jr. Electric votive candles were distributed to those around the marker and a candlelight vigil was held for Porter Jr.
