Man sentenced for trying to run over FIU professor, 5 other Black men at site of Rosewood massacre
MIAMI - In January of 1923, in Rosewood, there was a massacre of a number of Black residents in the tiny Florida town. The catalyst: A Black resident was lynched as a result of claims a white woman had been assaulted by a Black man.
A white mob swept into Rosewood and burned the town to the ground. It is a shocking history, not well known, but certainly well documented and not forgotten by retired FIU professor and author Dr. Marvin Dunn.
In recent years, Dunn bought a nice chunk of property in Rosewood. That purchase upset his neighbor across the street.
Describing a 2022 incident, Dunn told CBS News Miami reporter Hank Tester, "I'm the only Black person who has land out there in Rosewood today."
Dunn says he recently drove his truck to the property only to stare death in the face.
A man approached him and his group of 5 other Black men and asked, "What's going on out here?" And I said, well, sir, this is my property and we were just, that's as far as I got.
He said, "Well, if that's your property, why don't you all park on your side of the road?" I said, well, this is a public right away, this is what, the highway, we'll park wherever we wish, threw him into a rage.
The man stepped on the gas and started yelling the "N" word, dropping "F" bombs, comes back a few minutes later at full speed, it "almost ran us over."
According to Dunn, the outraged driver missed killing his son by inches, "So, we called the police, the...county police came out and arrested him."
Dunn says he bought the land for a purpose: To teach the history of what happened in Rosewood over one hundred years ago.
Dunn's organization brings students and school teachers to his land and tells the story as part of his "Teach the Truth Tours," which are weekend group tours visiting a number of Florida locations, where lynchings and racial atrocities were committed.
Dunn says, "I'm trying to establish that land, that my property as a place of racial reconciliation where people can come and talk through racial issues to try to work things out on that sacred ground."
Picking up on the story of the September 6th, 2022 hate crime Dunn told CBSNews Miami, "When I got back to Miami, I called the FBI and reported this as a hate crime and they took over on this case and they were just wonderful, they pursued it. He was arrested, charged with six counts of hate crime because there were six Black people involved. And just last week was sentenced. He was facing 10 years on each count. Dunn continued, "I know a hate crime when I saw and heard one."
Rosewood resident David Allen Emanuel, 62, was found guilty of six counts of hate crime. After hearing a plea from Dunn advocating mercy Federal Judge Allen Winsor said, "I don't think he's going to do something like this again … but there's a need for general deterrence, and it's clear he did it because of race." Emanuel will do a year and a day in federal prison. He will serve the six convictions at the same time.
Dunn was asked if he was surprised by the jury verdict. The answer was "Yes." We asked if he was shocked. His response was, "America works, America works!"
Emanuel, a retired clam farmer in north-central Florida, must surrender to report to prison no later than noon on Jan. 2, the judge said. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release after the prison term ends.
Prior to the attack in September 2022, Emanuel shouted racial slurs at the group from his white Ford F-250, and demanded that the men leave the area, court records show.
At the hearing Thursday, family and supporters of Emanuel filled the defense side of the courtroom. Muffled sobs emanated from some as the judge read the sentence.
"I do see he's provided a lot of value to the community," Winsor said. "I don't think he's going to do something like this again ... but there's a need for general deterrence, and it's clear he did it because of race."
The elder Dunn said the attack was the worst racial upheaval he's experienced since the Civil Rights era, but he and his son drove from their homes in Miami with a message of forgiveness.
Dunn submitted a letter to the judge last week on behalf of the other victims requesting mercy be shown to Emanuel, not solely for him and his family, but to move on as a country.
"For me, my faith requires forgiveness, and so I must," the letter read. "(Race) is the thorn in our collective side, the unmovable rock in our common path. For America to become whole, the thorns and rocks must be removed. The victims in this case are hopeful that in our plea for mercy for Mr. Emanuel and his family, we are taking an important step toward the goal of removing these obstacles to healing."
