Nov, 8, 2023 was the 125th anniversary of the phoenix riot which occurred in Greenwood Co. in Nov. 1898, are part of the 125th comminutions, we (community Coalition) conducted a solemn sacred soil collection ceremony at two sites in the Phoenix community where nine African Americans were lynched by gunfire during the week of Nov. 8, 1898. There was some Serious opposition to conducting the ceremony near Rehoboth Unital Methodist Church. We met with the paster of the church and was able to get the church to agree to conducting the ceremony on their property where six of the nine were lynched. Although tense, the ceremony was conducted and reported on by Greenwood’ local paper, The Index Journal. Many in the community were henceforth unaware of this tragic event.