In a small town named LaBelle, an innocent black man by the name of Hendry Patterson was sadly tortured and killed during the 1920's. Not many of the public knows about his story, i personally stumbled upon it doing research. I believe we should have a memorial/plaque/statue in remembrance of him, adding to the fact his voice should be heard and honored.  By of which justice for Hendry's life was never served.                                                                                                                  Hendry Patterson was a black laborer in LaBelle. During the summer heat he went to a white family's house seeking a glass of water to block away the stinging heat. He proceeded to knock on the back door, the wife of the family seen him and screamed in terror, fleeting to the front door. He then left, throughout the town word spread. With no warning he was shot multiple times by a mob of white men, the men allowed him to run for their amusement. Managing to live he ran door to door throughout town screaming, crying, and bleeding, desperate for help. People just looked away he was told by the news paper editor "Man, i cannot help you, pray to your god." Hendry attempted to climb a fence but was shot once again. The mob proceeded to drag him throughout town kicking, stomping his face, cutting pieces of his flesh. Once arrived to the new court house they hung him from a pine tree. the judge screamed in terror for them to stop but he was only laughed upon. The sherif rounded up some men that were believed to have committed the murder. Some how during the mens trials all evidence was lost. the men were never charged for the crime, and justice was never served for Hendry. On June 4th lighting struck it once again a large piece of stone fell through the roof and landed on the judge's bench in the same court room where the trial was held.  the tower was continuously hit by lightning damaging the clock.  the town then took apart the clock an stored it away the bell that was once there, can now be found donated to the first baptist church.

           To conclude this, adding a memorial to the town, gives a final resting place on such event. It also will help bring light in a such a dark moment in time, and to provide historical accuracy and unity in the community we all share. I feel morally remiss that he is forgotten in old archives of time.