lynchers
Extrajudicial hanging perpetrators
Lynchers are people who participate in a lynching—the extrajudicial killing of someone by a mob, typically by hanging.
The term carries the full weight of its history: in the American South, lynchers were white mobs who murdered Black people, often publicly and with impunity.
The lynchers posed for photographs beside the body.
The word now extends to any mob that bypasses legal process to punish someone: Internet lynchers destroyed her reputation overnight.
Outside court authority
- wrongfulWithout legal right
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
racism · discrimination · persecution · oppression · Jim Crow · prejudice · hatred · lawlessness
Large public gathering
- nooseLoop that constricts
- torchesPortable fire on poles
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
rage · brutality · bigotry · racism · murderous · angry · savagery · ferocity
Execution by noose
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- killingCausing death deliberately
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- mutilationDamaging a body severely
dragging · burning · beating · strangulation · execution · atrocity · brutality · cruelty
Instilling extreme fear
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- night ridersViolent nocturnal vigilante groups
warning · silencing · suppression · fear · harassment · domination · subjugation · repression
extrajudicial
Outside court authority
accusation · racism · discrimination · persecution · oppression · Jim Crow · prejudice · hatred · lawlessness · impunity
crowd
Large public gathering
hatred · rage · brutality · bigotry · racism · murderous · angry · savagery · ferocity · bloodlust
hanging
Execution by noose
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- killingCausing death deliberately
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
mutilation · dragging · burning · beating · strangulation · execution · atrocity · brutality · cruelty · terror
terrorizing
Instilling extreme fear
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
night riders · warning · silencing · suppression · fear · harassment · domination · subjugation · repression · Klan
lynchersjudges
Legal proceeding overseers
juries · due process · rule of law · fair trial · courts
lynchersvictims
Those who suffer harm
rescuers · protectors · defenders · saviors · civil rights activists