Members of the memorial committee say they want a monument that will catch the eye of people passing by - both locals, and tourists, who play an increasingly important role in Duluth's economy. Committee co-chair Henry Banks says a memorial to victims of a lynching won't scare away tourists. There isn't a positive spin on the Edmund Fitzgerald going down, either. But they've taken that event, and they've made it into a positive. It's all historical.
Banks prefers to talk about the memorial as an educational tool.
The committee is working with the Duluth Public Schools to draw up lesson plans about the lynching. At Duluth East High School, social studies teacher Ken Jensen leafs through a packet of news stories about the lynching that he gives to students. That banner flew outside their window almost every day. Committee members also continue to plan events for the June anniversary of the lynching, and they'll negotiate with city officials over the design of a monument in downtown Duluth. Chris Julin covers northeast Minnesota for Minnesota Public Radio's Mainstreet unit.