what happened during the leo frank case. summarize the event
The Leo Frank case was a highly controversial criminal trial that occurred in the early 20th century. Leo Frank was a Jewish factory manager, accused of the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, one of his employees, in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1913.
The trial and subsequent events were marred by anti-Semitism, racial tensions, and social upheaval. Frank was found guilty based mainly on circumstantial evidence and dubious witness testimonies. However, many believe he was wrongly convicted due to deep-rooted anti-Semitic sentiments prevalent in the region at the time.
Frank's case attracted national attention, with significant media coverage and intense public debate. Despite efforts from his legal team to secure a retrial, his appeals were ultimately denied, and the Georgia governor commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment.
Enraged by the governor's decision, a highly influential and politically connected group, the Knights of Mary Phagan, organized a mob that kidnapped Frank from prison and lynched him on August 17, 1915.
The Leo Frank case had a profound impact on the perception of Jews in the United States and fueled the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and other anti-Semitic organizations. It also highlighted flaws within the American justice system and continues to be studied as a critical case in American legal history.