The Center’s Without Sanctuary collection opens in the UK for the first time today.  It chronicles, through photographs and artifacts, a century in American history when lynchings were regular events, often including a public or community component.    The content is difficult.  It’s graphic and violent and shows a culture of indifference toward human beings just a few short decades ago that is tough to reconcile.   Bearing witness and learning what the images have to offer is part of the work, and is ultimately the reason we decided to make the collection part of the Center.  Learning from the subjects is one way we can honor the victims and inspire awareness and dialogue among groups in our country and abroad.

We’re pleased when other institutions see the instructive value in this collection—this is the third time it has traveled since we obtained it, and hope that it has an impact on English audiences.   The installation is at a photography gallery called Autograph ABP whose mission is to use photography to teach about human rights issues and international affairs.  Visit their website to learn more about their impressive exhibitions and programs, and how Without Sanctuary fits in to their work.