American Historical Ephemera & Photography, including African Americana

Before We Lynch Fred Ahmed Evans, A Few Nagging Questions. Cleveland, OH, 1968. 34 1/2 x 22 3/4 in. poster (considerable restoration to significant margin tears, mounted on archival paper). Allied Printing label to upper right corner.

Features a stark portrayal of an African American man standing, unclothed, with his wrists bound in handcuffs. Above him bold text reads: "BEFORE WE LYNCH FRED AHMED EVANS, A FEW NAGGING QUESTIONS." Above this title, smaller text reads: "Fred Ahmed Evans has been sentenced to die. Ask some questions. Information is available from Citizens Inquiry, P.O. Box 18310, Cleveland 44118."

Fred Ahmed Evans (1931-1978) was an outspoken leader of the local black militant movement in Cleveland. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on 4 April 1968, cities around the country erupted in riots. While Cleveland remained relatively quiet for the most part, an incident in the Glenville neighborhood on the East Side escalated into a gun fight between police and black snipers, resulting in the deaths of seven people (3 of whom were police officers). Rioting and violence ensued, and Mayor Carl Stokes called in the National Guard to restore order.

The shootout had taken place outside of an apartment where Evans and some of his associates lived. Tensions erupted after Evans had received an eviction notice for the apartment, and the FBI received a tip that Evans was planning an attack against political figures on the morning of the eviction, 24 July. Police surveilled the apartment and its surroundings, and the shootout commenced that day.

Evans turned himself into police on 24 July, and was charged with and convicted of seven counts of first degree murder. He was sentenced to death, provoking reactions like those conveyed by this poster. His sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment, and he died of cancer in 1978.