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Henry Lee Johnson

Case from Idabel, OK dated Jan 20, 1980

Victim Details

Henry Lee Johnson

Male

Black / African American

Idabel

OK

1980-01-20

15

Henry

Lee Johnson

07/06/2026

Case Description

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In the winter of 1980, the quiet town of Idabel, Oklahoma, became the setting for a tragedy that would expose deep-seated racial tensions. On the cold night of January 19th, 15-year-old Henry Lee Johnson, an African American male, along with his younger brother and some friends, took a familiar shortcut through the parking lot of the Black Hat Club. This local establishment, situated in a predominantly Black neighborhood, was known to be a segregated club for white patrons only and had a history ...
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Links to Additional Sources (8)

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  • sapphirelucydesigns: The Idabel Riot Remembered
  • Death of Henry Lee Johnson - Wikipedia
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    Forum Posts (2)

    Does anyone else find it infuriating how the actions of the Klan seemed to just ramp up the tension ... ...Read More
    08/09/2024
    Has anyone here looked into the role of the bystanders at the Black Hat Club on the night Henry was ... ...Read More
    06/06/2023
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