After discovery of more than 300 graves on property site, FrankCrum sues city of Clearwater
WTSP
WTSP
Quote:The discovery of more than 300 graves from an erased Black cemetery property on the FrankCrum staffing firm along Missouri Avenue has prompted a lawsuit from the company against the city of Clearwater for the removal of the remains.
The lawsuit, filed in the Pinellas County Circuit Court on Sept. 29, says it seeks to "recover damages for the local government’s failure to take accountability for mishandling a historic African-American cemetery."
In 2019, long-time residents of Clearwater's Black community came forward to the NAACP with memories of the St. Matthews Baptist Church cemetery and concerns that graves might still be on-site at FrankCrum, which sits atop where the cemetery was once located.
Between 2020 and 2022, archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar and archaeological digs to confirm 328 graves. They believe there are more.
“Since we first became aware of the potential that graves were still on this land, FrankCrum has been working closely with our local community members, the NAACP and the City to find a resolution that corrects this wrong and that honors the departed and their loved ones,” said Matt Crum, co-president of FrankCrum in an email statement.
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
~ Erin Hunter
