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John Bennett

Case from Augusta, GA dated May 12, 1970

Victim Details

John Bennett

Male

Black / African American

Augusta

GA

1970-05-12

28

John

Bennett

07/11/2026

Case Description

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In the spring of 1970, the city of Augusta, Georgia, was a powder keg of racial tension waiting for a spark. Decades of systemic oppression and injustice simmered just beneath the surface for the city's Black residents. That spark came with the death of Charles Oatman, a mentally disabled 16-year-old Black youth who died under brutal circumstances in the county jail. News of his death, his body bearing marks of torture, ignited a firestorm of protest that would engulf the city in what became kno ...
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Links to Additional Sources (11)

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  • John Bennett | Un(re)solved | FRONTLINE | PBS| Web Interactive
  • 1970 Augusta riot - Wikipedia
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    Forum Posts (3)

    I’ve been thinking a lot about the families of John Bennett and the other victims from the Augusta... ...Read More
    03/03/2024
    Has anyone else been following the developments in the investigation into John Bennett's death durin... ...Read More
    09/15/2023
    I've been reading through some old news articles and community stories about the Augusta Riot, and I... ...Read More
    05/26/2023
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