Council approves funding for Fred Rouse Memorial

Council approves funding for Fred Rouse Memorial

Published on August 26, 2025

Fort Worth City Council authorized a $232,377 contribution toward construction of the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial.

The memorial will honor Rouse, the only documented Black man lynched in Fort Worth. He was killed by a white mob in 1921 at the corner of Northeast 28th Street and Samuels Avenue.

Planned for 1000 N.E. 12th St., the site will be open to the public as a place of remembrance and reflection.

"This is an important partnership with the Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice and the City of Fort Worth to acknowledge and reflect on our painful history," said District 9 Councilmember Elizabeth Beck, in whose district the memorial will be located. "This is vital to creating a healthy and inclusionary place to call home."

Local organizations have already pledged about 85% of the project's cost, including the Rainwater Foundation, the Episcopal Diocese and the Mellon Foundation. The City's contribution will help close the remaining funding gap.

The funding will come from the Community Partnerships Program, which supports local projects that have broad community impact, include matching funds from community organizations and provide a plan for long-term maintenance.

The Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice, which will merge with nonprofit Transform 1012 in early 2026, will oversee the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial and handle its ongoing upkeep and operating costs.

Rendering: To be constructed at 1000 N.E. 12th St., the site will be open to the public as a place of remembrance and reflection.

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