Doria Dee Johnson

Doria Johnson was a tireless activist whose love of family led her on a journey of discovery—a journey that would define her life’s work. She uncovered the tragic lynching of her great-great-grandfather, Anthony Crawford, an event that spurred the migration of many African American families from Abbeville County, SC, to Evanston, IL.

 

Doria played a crucial role in the passage of the U.S. 109th Senate’s Resolution 39, which issued an apology to the victims of lynching and their descendants for the Senate's failure to enact anti-lynching legislation. This resolution was a precursor to the recently passed Emmett Till Antilynching Act of 2022. Even in death, Doria remains a powerful agent of change and restorative justice. Most of all, we remember her as a dear friend.

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Photo credit: Rich Foreman