Descendants of Black teen Alexander McClay Williams wrongfully sentenced in Delaware County and executed for a 1930 murder have asked county council not to rename a building in his honor, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

Instead, they would like a building named for Delaware County’s first Black attorney, William H. Riddle, who defended the teen.

Alexander McClay Williams was sentenced to death by Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge W. Roger Fronefield after he was convicted by an all-white jury in the murder of Vida Robare at the Glen Mills School for Boys.

The teen was exonerated in 2022 by Delaware County Common Pleas President Judge Kevin F. Kelly and then-Gov. Tom Wolf.

Ulysses Butch Slaughter launched a campaign to have the county Fronefield building renamed after McClay Williams.

Williams’ family members asked Council Wednesday not to rename the building after Williams.

“He was electrocuted in an electric chair. We are from Media, Pa., a lot of our family, and we don’t want every day going to drive by and see and be reminded of what happened to our uncle,” said Osceola Perdue, a niece of McClay Williams.

Read more about a request not to rename the Fronefield building after Alexander McClay Williams in the Daily Times.