American Experience: Scottsboro: An American Tragedy TV -
102,735. It began with two women, nine men and a charge of rape rising to envelop a Jewish lawyer from New York, the justice system in Alabama, the American Communist Party, the United States Supreme Court, the attention of the nation. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) American Experience: Scottsboro: An American Tragedy, PBS 1999
102,736. ‘The tragedy of this are nine boys’ lives hopelessly, eternally interrupted sent cascading down roads of terror and imprisonment.’ (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid. historian
102,737. The train dipped into the north-eastern corner of Alabama … a group of whites was moving along the top of the train and they stepped on the hand of one of the blacks and almost knocked him off the train … suddenly, from the shadows of a box-car emerged two white women, pale and dishevelled … ‘one of the women said we’ve been raped, all these coloured boys raped us.’ (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,738. Unable to get a lawyer in Scottsboro, the nine accused rapists were being represented by a Chattanooga real-estate attorney hired with $60 scraped together by the parents. The defendants had just one 20-minute meeting with their lawyer during which he urged them to plead guilty. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,739. All nine Scottsboro defendants were convicted of rape. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,740. Guards rushed their cells and beat them. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,741. When help did come it was from the most unlikeliest of sources: the Communist Party of the United States. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,742. Fast becoming an international cause célèbre. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,743. To stand trial for a third time. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.
102,744. Black and White United and Fight. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid. protest slogan
102,745. On many stages the mothers were joined by Ruby Bates: cast out of the South for her testimony… Ruby now apologised for her lie and proudly proclaimed herself a communist. (Miscarriages of Justice: Scottsboro 9 & Rape) ibid.