March 1, 2023
The Justice System Failed Ella May
On September 14th, 1929, Ella May drove into Gastonia from Bessemer City with a group of fellow union organizers, planning on singing at a rally in support of strikers at Loray Mill. Before they could reach their destination, however, a mob of armed anti-union men intercepted them and ran May’s truck off the road. The mob then opened fire on the truck, hitting May, who exclaimed “Oh Lord, they’ve killed me” and died. May’s killers would later walk free.