The burning of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Leesburg, Georgia, on August 15, 1962, was a significant event in the Civil Rights era. The church, which was an important institution in the African American community, was set on fire amid a wave of violence and intimidation aimed at suppressing the rights of African Americans in the South during that time.

While not as widely known as other Civil Rights events, the burning of Shady Grove Baptist Church reflects the hostility and fear that many African Americans faced in their fight for equal rights, particularly in rural areas like Leesburg. Church buildings often served as hubs for civil rights activism, and as such, they were frequently targeted by those opposed to desegregation and racial equality.

This incident is part of a larger pattern of violence that took place during the Civil Rights Movement, where churches, schools, homes, and other symbols of African American life and progress were attacked to intimidate and silence activists. The story of the burning of Shady Grove Baptist Church underscores the struggles many faced in the pursuit of justice and equality.