Scottsboro Boys Timeline

Scottsboro Boys Arrest

Mar 25, 1931

PhotoScottsboro Boys ArrestNine African American boys were taken off a train in Paint Rock, Alabama on charges of assault after a group of white males had reported a fight. Rape charages are added against all nine boys after accusations of Victoria Price and Ruby Bates.

Boys Nearly Lynched

Mar 26, 1931

PhotoLynching in AlabamaThe nine African American boys are nearly lynched after a mob mentality takes over a crowd of over 100 people gathered around Scottsboro Jail.

Scottsboro Boys Convicted

Apr 7, 1931

PhotoScottsboro Boys CourtClarence Norris(19), Charlie Weems(16), Haywood Patterson(18), Olen Montgomery(17), Ozie Powell(16), Willie Roberson(16), Eugene Williams(13) and Andy Wright(18) are tried in a court of an all white jury, unfit counsel and questionable evidence. They are found guilty and sentenced to death.

Ruby Bates Denies Rape

Jan 5, 1932

PhotoBates-StreetmanIn a letter to Earl Streetman, Ruby Bates denies she was raped. This showed that she was a dishonest witness in court and testified falsely about her case. She later went on to fight for The Scottsboro Boys' Freedom.

Reviewed by US Supreme Court

May 27, 1932

PhotoThe Trials of The Scottsboro BoysThe United States Supreme Court announces that they will review the Scottsboro trials and sentences. The jury, witness testitomines, defense team and verdict were questionable. The boys would be put on trial again to hopefully escape their death sentence.

Convictions of Powell vs. Alambama Reversed

Nov 7, 1932

PhotoScottsboro trial TimelineThe US Supreme Court reverses the convinctions of the Scottsboro boys in Powell vs. Alabama because Alabama had failed to provide adequate counsel for the defendants which is required by the 14th Amendment.

Samuel S. Lebowitz

Jan 1, 1933

PhotoSamuel LebowitzSamuel S. Lebowitz is called by the Internatitonal Labor Defense to defend the Scottsboro Boys in trial. Lebowitz had an incredible record as a defense attorney.

Trials Postponed

Apr 18, 1933

PhotoCourt PostponedJudge Horton postpones the trial because of local tensions. The levels of racial tension are dangerously high. The injustice going on in the courtroom was being felt around the community.

Protests in Washington

May 7, 1933

PhotoScottsboro Boys ProtestMany people gather to protest for the Scottsboro Boys' freedom and racial equality in the justice system. The racially unfair court case opened many eyes to the destruction of white superiority.

New Judge for Scottsboro Boy's Case

Oct 20, 1933

PhotoJudge William CallahanJudge William Callahan</a>Judge William Callahan is assigned the Scottsboro Boys' court case. The stated goal of William Callahan, the Alabama trial judge for the later Scottsboro trials (those from November, 1933 to July,
1937) was to stear the case away from the public headlines.

Lawyers Used Bribery

Oct 1, 1934

PhotoVictoria PriceTwo lawyers are charged with attempting to bribe Victoria Price to change her testimony. Price stuck to her story and reported the lawyers to the police. This justifies the questionability of the trial and those involved.

No African Americans on Jury

Apr 1, 1935

PhotoEncylopedia of AlabamaThe United States Supreme Court overturns the convictions of Clarence Norris and Haywood Patterson because of the fact that there were no African Americans on the jury(Patterson's jurors pictured). This lead to the idea of racial discrimination towards the defendants while in court.

Scottsboro Defense Committee

Dec 1, 1935

PhotoScottsboro Defense CommitteeThe Scottsboro Defense Committee is formed when the NAACP and CP combine to fight to save the Scottsboro Boys and to fight for civil rights.

Last of the Scottsboro Boys Dies

Jan 23, 1989

PhotoClarence Norris Life and Death
Clarence Norris was the last of the Scottsboro Boys to die.
"My name is Clarence Norris, one of the Scottsboro Boys. I was arrested in Alabama in 1931 and sentenced to the electric chair three times. The governor commuted my sentence to life in prison."
Clarence Norris spent his life in and out of prison and passed away at the age of 76.

Official Pardoning of Boys

Apr 19, 2013

PhotoAlabama Governor Pardons Scottsboro Boys after 80 YearsAlabama Governor, Robert Bentley, signs legislation officially pardoning all nine Scottsboro Boys from convictions. Although none of the boys were alive to see this, it marked an important step in US History.