[TradicalRC]

I would be curious as to 1) What is the definition of lynching here, 2)Why do some states have a circle but no number and 3)How did Murray Straus come up with his calculations?

[risk]

How did Murray Straus come up with his calculations?

All interesting questions, but you missed my point: gagging recalls lynching. Lynchings happened. That much is a tragedy, and King was instrumental in transitioning America beyond its Jim Crow days.

But I must say that your questions in this context bring to mind Holocaust denial. They continue asking the same kinds of questions when the point is never to let it happen again.