On April 1, the Saturday before Palm Sunday, congregations of the North Region of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas will take part in the Mr. Fred Rouse Pilgrimage, which will visit sites associated with the lynching of Mr. Fred Rouse on December 11, 1921.
The Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem is a well-known pilgrimage stop for Christians. There they trace the footsteps of Jesus as he made his final journey to Calvary. On April 1, pilgrims in Fort Worth will walk a via dolorosa here in Fort Worth, as they visit sites associated with the lynching of Mr. Fred Rouse on December 11, 1921. At each of the sites, participants will hear his story, and pray, not just for Mr. Rouse, but also for the 4,500+ other victims of racial terror lynchings in this country.
The tour will begin at 1 pm and should conclude by 3 pm. Participants can park at 1012 North Main Street at the Ellis Pecan Company Building that served as the headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan in Fort Worth and is now the home of the Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing, a project in process.
NOTE ON PARKING:
Because of the amount of glass and debris remaining on the south side of the Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing, participants are urged to park just north of the building or on the street east of the building for safety reasons.
After a short welcoming and prayer, participants will board a bus that will transport pilgrims to the other three sites related to the lynching:
The Swift & Company Meat Packing Plant – east end of Exchange Avenue in the Stock Yards
The former Negro Ward of the City & County Hospital at 330 E. 4th St.
Site of the actual lynching – corner of NE 12th Street and Samuels Avenue
There also will be an opportunity to hear about the plans of the Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice to transform this site of violence and hatred into a place of healing and peace.
For more information, contact:
Katie Sherrod
Communications Officer for the North Region,
Episcopal Diocese of Texas
817-909-0070 (mobile)
ksherrod@epicenter.org
Fred Rouse III
Chair, Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice
214-226-9066 (mobile)
Frouse3912@aol.com