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Lynching sites in the Memphis area will be evaluated by the National Park Service (NPS) for potential inclusion in the National Park System.

Congress authorized the review of sites in 2023. From there, the park system had three years to deliver a report on the sites. The report will guide federal lawmakers as they decide whether the lynching sites should be added to the National Park System.

If so, those same lawmakers would decide how to proceed — a new park, a historical site, designated with historic markers, no action, and other choices. 

Seven of the lynchings under review occurred in Memphis and Shelby County. Another took place in Brownsville. The NPS is also searching a 100-mile radius around Memphis for other lynchings not yet listed in the project. 

NPS is now seeking public comment on the original eight lynching sites under review. They accept comments via the web here

The agency has also scheduled in-person and virtual meetings here: 

• Friday, Feb. 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. CST (virtual)

• Tuesday, March 3, 4:30-6:30 p.m. CST (Oxford Public Library Auditorium, 401 Bramlett Blvd., Oxford, Miss.)   

• Wednesday, March 4, 6-8 p.m. CST (Rhodes College, Turley Center for Community Engagement, 613 University Ave., Memphis, Tenn.)  

• Thursday, March 5, 6-8 p.m. CST (Carver High School Auditorium, 705 East Jefferson St., Brownsville, Tenn.)