During this era, African Americans could be lynched for any perceived social transgression, including speaking disrespectfully to a white person, refusing to step off the sidewalk, or using profanity. On July 5, 1933, Elizabeth Lawrence was walking home in Jefferson County, Alabama, when a group of white schoolchildren threw rocks at her. Ms. Lawrence verbally reprimanded the children, and continued walking. Later that evening, an angry mob went to Ms. Lawrence’s home, seized her, and burned her house to the ground. She was lynched that night for her perceived social transgression. Her son Alexander sought the arrest of his mother’s murderers. As a result, the mob reorganized and pursued him, causing him to flee for his life to Boston, Massachusetts. Alexander had much to fear: Jefferson County had more lynchings than any other county in Alabama.