A Christmas Threat to 1920 Black Voters
The Ocoee Massacre Was One Part of a Statewide Effort to Suppress Votes
Because of recent efforts to publicize the Ocoee Massacre. People are somewhat aware of the mass murder and devastation in Ocoee, FL, after two Black men attempted to vote in the 1920 Presidential election. When everything was said and done, two white men were killed at the home of July Perry when a mob tried to drag him out of his home and lynch him. The Perry family stood their ground, but Perry was later taken to an Orlando jail, where he was still dragged out and lynched. The only thing that changed was the location.
What isn’t generally known is that the efforts to suppress the Black vote in Ocoee were part of a statewide effort led by Governor Sidney Catts to suppress the Black vote. Black activists were killed in Manatee, Liberty, and Gadsden counties. This letter was circulated among Black potential voters in Orlando and to a local judge trying to register Black voters.
In Flagler County, about 100 miles from Orlando, another letter was circulated to scare Black voters. 1920 was the first year women had the right to vote in…
