Black men executed in 1951 rape granted posthumous pardons

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has granted posthumous pardons to 7 Black men executed successful 1951 for the rape of a achromatic woman. At the time, the lawsuit attracted pleas for mercy from astir the world. In caller years, it has been held up arsenic an illustration of radical disparity successful the usage of the decease penalty. The ‘Martinsville Seven’ were each convicted of raping 32-year-old Ruby Stroud Floyd successful a predominantly achromatic vicinity successful Martinsville connected Jan. 8, 1949. It was the largest wide execution for rape successful U.S. history. In December, advocates and descendants of the men asked Northam to contented posthumous pardons. Their petition does not reason that the men were innocent, but says their trials were unfair and the punishment was utmost and unjust.