Save the Date! A special CCJI Till Act Reauthorization event in Washington, D.C.! September 12, 2016

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Save the Date! Mark your calendars for this special CCJI Till Act Reauthorization event in Washington, D.C.! MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.Emmett Till Reauthorization Act Light Refreshments LOCATION Capitol Visitor Center Room HVC-215 Washington, D.C. 20510 It is time to pass the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016. Hear from families and experts who will discuss the importance of the Bill and its potential for positive impact on both the past and present. QUESTIONS? Contact: Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, INFO@EMMETTTILLLEGACYFOUNDATION.COM  763 476 8677

The Coalition for Reauthorization includes: The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project — Cold Case Justice Initiative — Emmett Till Justice Campaign — Emmett Till Legacy Foundation — Emory University Civil Rights Cold Case Project — Leadership Conference on Civil Rights — Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation — NAACP — NAACP Legal Defense Fund — National Urban League — Southern Poverty Law Center.   Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Mailing Address  1161 Wayzata Blvd East, Suite 43  Minneapolis, Minnesota 55391  info@emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com @emmetttill 763 476 8677

Remembering Emmett Till. August 28 Marks the 61st Anniversary of Emmett Till's death.

August 28, marks the 61st Anniversary of #EmmettTill 's death.
It's A Time For Unity in Black and White

• Join us and many across the world as we keep Emmett's memory, precious life story and legacy alive.
• Share his story.
• Wear your power black and white colors for Unity on August 28.
• Take a pic or selfie,  post and share
• Pause for a moment of Silence at 12 noon.
• Say his name and all others who have lost their lives to hate and violence.
• Contact your Congressman/Congresswoman, urge them to support #TillBill2/ The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act 2016

#JusticeWillPrevail for victims families from 1970, now and future, each of them deserve it!
You can make a difference today!

Thank you!

#blacklivesmatter #justicematters #civilrights #mamietillmobley #spiritofemmetttill #RememberingEmmettTill #EmmettTill61st #SpiritofMamieTillMobley #MedalofFreedom4Mamie

Twitter @emmetttill

Below is the text from the Senate press release issued on July 15, 2016:

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act Passes Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday July 15, 2016

WASHINGTON – Last night, the Senate approved the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016, S.2854. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Sen. Claire McCaskill, (D-MO), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), introduced this bipartisan, bicameral legislation in April of this year. The House bill, H.R. 5067, is led by Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). 

Before the passage of major civil rights legislation in the 1960s, hundreds of racially suspicious crimes were committed in this country, and many cases remain unsolved to this day. This bill calls on the Department of Justice and FBI to consult with advocacy organizations, universities, and other entities that have also been gathering evidence on cold cases from the 1960s and beyond. The bill also recognizes the potential for prosecutions at the state level, and seeks to facilitate the state and federal government collaboration toward this end.

“There are still too many unsolved murders and too many families who do not know the truth about what happened to their loved ones,” said Senator Burr. “This remains deeply troubling, but I know that this bill will help bring the truth to light and hold those accountable for atrocities committed decades ago. I am pleased the Senate has passed this bill, as it is an important part of the legacy of Emmett Till and all the other Americans who were brutally murdered and never received justice. While we can never right these unimaginable wrongs, we can reaffirm to future generations that every American is worthy of the law’s protection." 

“This is a big step forward,” said Senator McCaskill, a former Jackson County Prosecutor. “Now is not the time to let up on our efforts to bring justice and closure to families and communities affected by these heinous acts of violence and hatred, and I hope the Republican leaders in the U.S. House move with the same urgency as we’ve seen in the Senate.” 

“Too many families suffer from the unsolved murders of their loved ones during the civil rights era without receiving justice,”said

 Senator Leahy. “The way to best serve these families is to provide our Federal government with the tools it needs to investigate these unsolved crimes, and to hopefully, bring some sense of closure for these families. I thank Congressman Lewis for his tireless work on behalf of the families of these victims of unsolved murders from the civil rights era and I am proud that the Senate has passed this important legislation today.” 

“The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act marked an important step toward getting the victims of racially-motivated crimes, and their families, the answers they deserve,” said Senator Blunt. “There is still much more work to be done, however, and I’m glad that the Senate acted today to reauthorize the legislation to continue supporting efforts to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.”

More details on the bill available here and Senator Burr introduced comments for the record here.

BACKGROUND

Before the passage of major civil rights legislation in the 1960s, hundreds of racially suspicious crimes were committed in this country, and few attempts to prosecute them were ever pursued.Tuskegee Institute once kept a record of verified lynchings in the United States from 1877 to 1950. The institute documented that nearly 4000 mainly unprosecuted civil rights crimes occurred during that period. Many American families continue to pass down stories of loss and disappearance even today without knowing the truth about what actually happened to their loved ones.

PRIMARY GOALS OF THE BILL

The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act represents a critical opportunity to right these wrongs committed, primarily against African Americans, but also against people of diverse backgrounds. In some cases, individuals still remain who were witnesses to these crimes or who can help provide evidence regarding these incidents. 

This bill reauthorizes and updates the original legislation that was signed into law in 2008. 

It seeks to respond to the concerns of victims' family members and strengthen collaboration between the Justice Department, the FBI, State and local law enforcement, and advocates to pursue these cold cases. 

There is a collective goal to seek the truth about this long-standing tragedies and hold the perpetrators and orchestrators of these atrocities accountable. 

This reauthorization also seeks to respond to the concerns of advocates regarding the implementation of the original legislation.

MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION

This bill calls on the Department of Justice and FBI * to consult with civil rights experts, universities, and other entities that have also been gathering evidence in these cold cases;

*Provides clearer direction and improved coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement and the families of victims, advocates, and academics working on these issues;

*Strengthens the Department of Justice’s reporting requirements;

*Eliminates the pre-1969 time limitation on investigations;

*Eliminates the sunset provision in the original bill;

*Asks the Department of Justice to review specific closed cases that warrant further investigation; 

*Maintains the previous funding levels;

*Establishes the process to reopen, review, and update the public on the cases previously closed and explain the outcome of cases referred to the Department of the Justice;

and 

*Clarifies the law’s intent.

                    ###

60 Year Anniversary Honoring Emmett Till Legacy Day 1 Photos

60 Year Anniversary Honoring Emmett Till : Documentary of 2002 Mamie Till Mobley Visit (Photos below)

Our Thank you to Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson, MS, for hosting the family of ‪#‎EmmettTill‬ and the community on August 27, 2015 for their documentary showing of Mamie Till Mobley's 2002 Memorial Visit. ‪#‎EmmettTill60
#RememberingEmmettTill

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154400103944625&id=138927669624

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Emmett Till Family Commemorates 60-year Legacy Coverage

Emmett Till Family Commemorates 60-year Legacy
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/events/2015/aug/28/emmett-till-family-commemorates-60-/?et=19073

Relatives Remember Emmitt Till on the 60th Anniversary of his Brutal Murder
by Desare Frazier
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/08/28/relatives-remember-emmitt-till-on-the-60th-anniversary-of-his-brutal-murder/

Emmett Till Legacy: 60 year Anniversary Commemoration
The Washington Post .......Descendants of Emmett Till gather outside of an old service station in Money, Mississippi on August 29, 2015. The service station is next to what remains of Bryants Grocery & Meat Market, Money, Mississippi, site of an incident that led to a brutal murder that helped kick-start the civil rights revolution.....
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/descendants-of-emmett-till-gather-outside-of-an-old-service-news-photo/487261426

Emmett Till honored 60 years after his slaying
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/emmett-till-slaying-60-years-later/

Emmett Till remembered 60 years after brutal murder Posted by Jewell Hillery http://www.wbrc.com/story/29902405/emmett-till-remembered-60-years-after-brutal-murder

Emmett Till’s cousin: ‘Murder never crossed my mind’ after he whistled
http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/articles/2015/8/26/emmett-till-anniversary-cousin-history-civil-rights.html

Remembering Emmett Till And America’s ‘Disappeared’
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/09/04/jim-crow-era-cold-cases

Events Mark Emmett Till Slaying 60 Years Later By Emily Pettus http://chicago.suntimes.com/news-chicago/7/71/916355/emmett-tills-family-mark-60th

Events mark Emmett Till slaying 60 years later Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press Updated 12:03 am, Sunday, August 30, 2015 http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Events-mark-Emmett-Till-slaying-60-years-later-6469398.php#photo-8543591

Events mark 60 year anniversary of Emmett Till's slaying
http://www.mlive.com/news/us-world/index.ssf/2015/08/post_50.html

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/Emmett-Till-teenager-slaying-60-years-323198751.html

Events in Mississippi, Illinois commemorate 60th anniversary of slaying of Emmett Till
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/27/events-in-mississippi-illinois-commemorate-60th-anniversary-slaying-emmett-till/

Emmett Till 60th year commemoration events planned
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/29885097/emmett-till-60th-year-commemoration-events-planned  

Emmett Till Honored Today On 60th Anniversary Of His Death by Elisabet Stenberg http://uinterview.com/news/emmett-till-honored-today-on-60th-anniversary-of-his-death/

6 Decades Later, Acquittal Of Emmett Till's Killers Troubles Town
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/25/443205842/six-decades-later-acquittal-of-emmett-tills-killers-troubles-town

 

Bullet holes riddle the historical marker at the site where Emmett Till's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River in the rural Mississippi Delta.

60 Years After Emmett Till's Murder, Black Lives Still Matter
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/60-years-after-emmett-tills-murder-black-lives-still-matter-n417656

Family remembers Emmett Till during anniversary parade By Roslyn Anderson
http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/29915952/family-remembers-emmett-till-during-anniversary-parade

60 years later, murder of Emmett
Till resonates throughout the nation (Sept 3-9, 2015) 60 years later, murder of Emmett Till resonates throughout the nation
http://themississippilink.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/September-3-2015.pdf

Emmett Till Legacy Foundation - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Emmett-Till-Legacy-Foundation-138927669624/timeline/

Why Emmett Till's Life Matters 60 Years After His Brutal Slaying
by Errin Whack
http://abcnews.go.com/US/emmett-tills-life-matters-60-years-brutal-slaying/story?id=33386573

Remembering Emmett Till's Murder, 60 Years Later http://www.nbcnews.com/video/remembering-emmett-tills-murder-60-years-later-515054147616 via @nbcnews

Mississippi town where Emmett Till killed 60 years ago slowly By Wesley Lowery http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/insight/2015/09/13/fading-history.html

You are invited to: Emmett Till 60 Year Anniversary Commemoration in Mississippi August 27-30

About Emmett Till: Sixty years ago, on August 28, 1955, 14–year–old Emmett Till , a vibrant black youth from Chicago and the only son of Mamie Till Mobley, was visiting family in Mississippi. He had been accused of whistling at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant at the Bryant grocery store in Money, Mississippi.  He was kidnapped in the middle of the night from his uncles’ home near Money, Mississippi by at least two men Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam. He was badly beaten, brutally murdered and with a 75 pound cotton gin fan tied around his neck; his body was thrown into the Tallahatchie River.  The Grand Jury in Sumner, Mississippi, indicted Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam for the crime of murder. These two men were then tried on this charge and were acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury after a deliberation of just over an hour. Within four months of their acquittal the two men confessed to the murder. Their confession, the decision by his mother to have an open casket funeral and published pictures of Emmett’s corpse, drew outrage across America and other countries and helped to ignite the historic civil rights movement. 
More info about the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation: Emmett Till Legacy Foundation is a 501c3 non profit organization "creating a legacy of hope" and building a bridge from the past to the present and future in memory of Emmett Louis Till and in honor of his Mother, Mamie Till Mobley. Feel free to contact us: 763 476 8677 or Info@emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com , www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com  , facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emmett-Till-Legacy-Foundation/138927669624,  "Never Again" Movement and Pledge Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Never-Again-Movement-and-Pledge/136014269806914, Twitter: www.twitter.com/EmmettTill , Instagram: emmetttilllegacyfoundation, Blog: http://emmett-till-legacy-of-hope.blogspot.com/

#### 

Special Note from Team Mississippi!:

Our hearts, good spirits, prayers and warm wishes are extended to all family, supporters, friends and organizations who are hosting Remembering Emmett Till and 60 year anniversary observances taking place across the country.

We thank you!

We encourage our readers to support and attend any of these events as applicable..In Unity!

 

#BlackLivesMatter #RememberingEmmettTill #RememberEmmettTill #Aug28 #EmmettTill60 #SpiritOfEmmettTill #SpiritOfMamieTillMobley #NeverForget #LestWeForget # PastIsNotPast #WhereItAllStarted #MoneyMississippi
#SumnerMississippi #JusticeInTime #TimeForUnity #Mississippi #CivilRights
#History #ForMoreThanAWhistle #ChicagoHome #FearisNotAnOption #EmmettTillStillMatters #UntoldStoryOfEmmettTill #DeathOfInnocence #HateCrime

Emmett Till Family Commemorates 60 Year Legacy August 27-30, 2015 in Mississippi

Emmett Till Family Commemorates 60 Year Legacy August 27-30 2015.   

Emmett Till Legacy: 60 year Anniversary Commemoration

“Time For Unity, Reflection and Remembrance”

 

[Mississippi] August 17, 2015, All are invited to join the Family of Emmett Till along with the Emmett Louis Till Justice For Families, Emmett Till Legacy Foundation (ETLF) and Ambassadors, City of Jackson, MS, the local and global community in commemorating and honoring the Legacy of Emmett Till and the 60 year anniversary of his death.  

Come  and experience “WHERE IT ALL STARTED”. Support this special and historic Emmett Till Legacy: 60 year Anniversary Commemoration “Time For Unity, Reflection and Remembrance”.

What: Emmett Till Family Commemorates 60 Year Legacy Aug 27-30  Emmett Till Legacy: 60 year Anniversary Commemoration “Time For Unity, Reflection and Remembrance”

When: August 27- 30, 2015

Where: Various locations in Jackson, MS and the Delta area in Mississippi, See details below.

Emmett Till Legacy: 60 year Anniversary Commemoration “Time For Unity, Reflection and Remembrance”

 List of Weekend events “WHERE IT ALL STARTED”. 

·          Thursday, August 27th at 6 p.m a documentary of Mamie Till Mobley’s memorable visit in 2002 with Rev. AD Williams of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. Location: Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, 1118 Martin Luther King St., Jackson, MS Featuring Q and A with Emmett Till Family. Hosted by Laura Williams and Priscilla Sterling

·          Friday, August 28th: All day and anywhere in the world, Join us for the annual Time for Unity in Black and White Please wear black and white attire. Observe a Moment of Silence at noon CST  Remembering all of those who have lost their lives to hate, racism and violence. (see Twitter @emmetttill,  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emmett-Till-Legacy-Foundation/138927669624 or Emmett Till Legacy Foundation (ETLF) on Instagram for more details.

·          Friday, August 28th 12p.m-2 p.m. Remembering Emmett Louis Till Legacy Luncheon: 60 Years Later. Guest speaker; Congressman John Lewis, A panel of “Those Who Remember”, with Emmett Till Family as invited guests. Location: Smith Robertson Museum, 528 Bloom Street, Jackson, MS Hosted by Dr. Jay

·          Friday, August 28th 7:45 p.m. -9 p.m. “Remembering Emmett Till” a Candle Light Vigil and Prayer for Peace.  Location: Jackson State University  1400 JR Lynch St. hosted by Team Mississippi

·          Friday, August 28th 10 p.m.- 1 a.m. community Meet and Greet with Till Family and special guests entertainment, music, Elim Art and spoken word. Location: Mediterranean Bar and Grill, 6550 Old Canton Rd. Ridgeland, MS. Free and open to the public. Donations accepted to support the Emmett Till Legacy Scholarship fund.

·          Saturday, August 29th 9:30am – 11:30 a.m.  Emmett Till Parade “Marching for Unity and Equality in Remembrance of Emmett Louis Till featuring Till family members invited as Grand Marshals. Location: starting point “Freedom Corner”, Medgar Evers Blvd & Martin Luther King St. End point: Lanier High School, 833 Maple St. Hosted by the City of Jackson, MS. and City Council.

·          Saturday, August 29th Noon-10pm: Experience “WHERE IT ALL STARTED”  a Delta Mississippi Bus, Driving, Walking and Museum Tour  including Sumner, Glendora, Leflore and Tallahatchie counties and more) and a Remembering Emmett Till Program  hosted by the City of Jackson, MS and the City Council, will include invited guests, area and visiting youth, City Council, Emmett Louis Till Family and community.   (Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center,  fee is $5 for adults and children $3). Post discussion and program with Emmett Till Family and Special guests. Hosted by Area students, Team Mississippi: Deborah Watts, Jessie Jaynes and Patrick Weems.

·          Sunday August 30: 11:30 am-1:00pm Worship Together Service with Till Family and Team Mississippi. The All White event will take place at Alabaster C.O.G.I.C located at 940 McDowell Rd., Jackson, MS. 

·          Sunday, August 30, 4 p.m.-6pm Film screening “Who Killed Emmett Till?” and “The Story of Mamie Till Mobley” with an important community discussion Where do we go from here? Lead by Deborah Watts and Priscilla Sterling and Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Board members. Hosted by Mac Epps and Tougaloo College. Location: New Highlights Bldg. on the Tougaloo College campus.

*Times and Locations subject to change. 

Brought to you by Team Mississippi!: A collaboration including community, civic leaders, clergy,  actors, celebrities, ETLF ambassadors and Emmett Till Family members coming together to Commemorate the 60 year anniversary in memory of Emmett Louis Till and Mamie Till Mobley, “WHERE IT ALL STARTED”. 

About Emmett Till: Sixty years ago, on August 28, 1955, 14–year–old Emmett Till , a vibrant black youth from Chicago and the only son of Mamie Till Mobley, was visiting family in Mississippi. He had been accused of whistling at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant at the Bryant grocery store in Money, Mississippi.  He was kidnapped in the middle of the night from his uncles’ home near Money, Mississippi by at least two men Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam. He was badly beaten, brutally murdered and with a 75 pound cotton gin fan tied around his neck; his body was thrown into the Tallahatchie River.  The Grand Jury in Sumner, Mississippi, indicted Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam for the crime of murder. These two men were then tried on this charge and were acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury after a deliberation of just over an hour. Within four months of their acquittal the two men confessed to the murder. Their confession, the decision by his mother to have an open casket funeral and published pictures of Emmett’s corpse, drew outrage across America and other countries and helped to ignite the historic civil rights movement.

For more info about the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation: Emmett Till Legacy Foundation is a 501c3 non profit organization "creating a legacy of hope" and building a bridge from the past to the present and future in memory of Emmett Louis Till and in honor of his Mother, Mamie Till Mobley. Feel free to contact us: 763 476 8677 or Info@emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com , www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com  , facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emmett-Till-Legacy-Foundation/138927669624,  "Never Again" Movement and Pledge Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Never-Again-Movement-and-Pledge/136014269806914, Twitter: www.twitter.com/EmmettTill , Instagram: emmetttilllegacyfoundation, Blog: http://emmett-till-legacy-of-hope.blogspot.com/

#### 

Special Note from Team Mississippi:

Our hearts, good spirits, prayers and warm wishes are extended to all family, supporters, friends and organizations who are hosting Remembering Emmett Till and 60 year anniversary observances taking place across the country.

We thank you!

We encourage our readers to support and attend any of these events as applicable..In Unity!

 

#BlackLivesMatter #RememberingEmmettTill #RememberEmmettTill #Aug28 #EmmettTill60 #SpiritOfEmmettTill #SpiritOfMamieTillMobley #NeverForget #LestWeForget # PastIsNotPast #WhereItAllStarted #MoneyMississippi
#SumnerMississippi #JusticeInTime #TimeForUnity #Mississippi #CivilRights
#History #ForMoreThanAWhistle #ChicagoHome #FearisNotAnOption #EmmettTillStillMatters

 

 

Past & Present Famlies United: Justice & Accountability for Racist Killings

Saturday, May 30, 2015
Past & Present Families United:
Justice & Accountability for Racist Killings
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cold Case Justice Initiative at Syracuse University College of Law Orientation Program
Location: National Center for Civil & Human Rights (Museum & Lecture Halls) 100 Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30313 (Parking at Coca Cola or Georgia Aquarium Parking)
The orientation program is designed to be an informative, collaborative, and constructive event in which we will hear the voices of family members of victims of racially-motivated violence and their continuing quest for justice; members of the media who investigate these cases and inform the public about the continuing need for awareness; and advocates and activists who work with family members and communities to obtain justice. The roundtable discussion in the afternoon will involve strategic discussion for concrete ideas for the pursuit of justice and accountability and ways in which CCJI law student interns can advance these causes in collaboration with families, communities, and social justice organizations and governmental entities.
9:00 a.m. Welcome & Introduction to the Work of the Cold Case Justice  Initiative
9:15 a.m. Families Fighting for Justice
– 10:15 a.m.
Joyce Dorsey and Jessica Malcolm (Moore’s Ford Bridge Massacre Families)
  Former Georgia State Representative Tyrone Brooks
Janice Cameron and Nedra Walker (Five Atlanta Fishermen Killed in Pensacola, Florida)
Cheryl McCollum, Director, Cold Case Investigative Research Institute
CCJI Co-Directors, Introduction of Emmett Till Legislation
10:20 a.m. Role of the Media
– 11:15 a.m.
  Stanley Nelson, Concordia Sentinel, Ferriday, Louisiana
Hank Klibanoff, Emory University, The Civil Rights Cold Case Project
Angela Robinson, President of A.R.C. Media, LLC and Host and Executive Producer of In Contact (produced by American Association of Black Journalists on PBS station WPBA)
Derrick Boazman, Radio Host WAOK 1380 Atlanta Program, “Too Much Truth”
11:25 a.m. Families United
– 12:30 p.m.
Denise Jackson Ford and Wharlest Jackson, Jr. (Wharlest Jackson, Sr., Natchez, Miss.)
 Shelton Chappell (Johnnie Mae Chappell, Jacksonville, Fla.)
 Martinez Sutton (Rekia Boyd, Chicago, Illinois)
12:30 p.m.
– 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:45 p.m. Round Table Discussion and Strategic Decision Making Session
– 4:00 p.m.
 Aurielle Marie, It’s Bigger Than You, Atlanta
 Mawuli Davis, Civil Rights Attorney
 Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, Georgia NAACP
Charles Steele, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Deborah Watts, Emmett Till Family (Emmett Till Legacy Foundation )
Joe Beasley, Rainbow Push
CCJI Co-Directors
Acknowledgements: The Cold Case Justice Initiative thanks all of the participants in the 2015 Summer Internship Orientation program. We also thank Deborah Richardson and the Staff of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Kevin Moran, People’s Agenda, Angela Robinson, ARC Media (SU ’78), and Scott McDowell, Syracuse University Regional Communications. We are especially grateful for the contribution from an anonymous donor from the Atlanta area, whose generosity made the orientation program and the summer internships possible.

Watch #PREACHERMAN this is a moving and powerful video & song tribute to Emmett Till

Experience and Watch #PREACHERMAN now! this is a moving and powerful video & song tribute to Emmett Till by internationally renowned grammy nominated recording jazz artist Melody Gardot Check it out here:
www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com 

 Shown here: www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com 

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOwoE8XtPFU

EMMETT TILL DAY RESOLUTION (Written in part by Emmett Till Memorial Commission and Emmett Till Legacy Foundation)

EMMETT TILL DAY RESOLUTION

 

In memory and Honor of Emmett Till as we commemorate the 60th year anniversary of his death, We request that every state, city, county, community and organization adopt the following resolution. MAKE It an official Emmett Till Day in your area. Please send us your intent and confirm with a copy of your request to the appropriate officials in your area.

 

 

Thank you in advance for your support!

EMMETT TILL DAY RESOLUTION (Written in part by Emmett Till Memorial Commission and Emmett Till Legacy Foundation)

We believe that racial reconciliation begins with telling
the truth. We call on citizens in every community, to begin an honest investigation into our history. While it will be painful, it is necessary to nurture reconciliation and to ensure justice for all. By recognizing the potential for division and violence in our own towns, we pledge to each other, black, white and all ethnicities, to move forward together in healing the wounds of the past, and in ensuring equity, equality and equal justice for all of our citizens.

Sixty years ago, on August 28, 1955, 14–year–old Emmett Till was kidnapped in the middle of the night from his uncle’s home near Money, Mississippi, by at least two men, one from Leflore County and one from Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. Till, a black youth from Chicago visiting family in Mississippi, was kidnapped and murdered, and his body thrown into the Tallahatchie River. He had been accused of whistling at a white woman in Money. His badly beaten body was found days later in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.

The Grand Jury meeting in Sumner, Mississippi, indicted Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam for the crime of murder. These two men were then tried on this charge and were acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury after a deliberation of just over an hour. Within four months of their acquittal the two men confessed to the murder.

Before the trial began, Till's mother had sought assistance from federal officials, under the terms of the so-called “Lindbergh Law,” which made kidnapping a federal crime, but received no aid. Despite an effort by Till's mother to re-open the case, no one has ever been brought to justice for the crime. We believe justice is still possible and that an educational restorative justice model can show us a way forward.

We the citizens of every state and nation recognize that the Emmett Till case was a terrible miscarriage of justice. We state candidly and with deep regret the failure to effectively pursue justice.

We wish to say to the family of Emmett Till that we are profoundly sorry for what was done to your loved one.

We the citizens of every community acknowledge the horrific nature of this crime. Its legacy has haunted our nation. We need to understand the system that encouraged these events and others like
them to occur so that we can ensure that it never happens again. Working together, we have the power now to fulfill the promise of “liberty, peace and justice for all.”

We further more join the Never Again movement and make this pledge;
I pledge to NEVER AGAIN allow the ugly parts of our past history to become the present;
I will forever stand up against racism, hatred, injustice and crimes against our youth.
I will always stand up for peace, justice and equality for all. I PLEDGE NEVER AGAIN.

 

 

Respectfully submitted:

Deborah Watts
Till Family Member

Co-Founder
Emmett Till Legacy Foundation
"Creating a Legacy Of Hope"
763 476 8677
www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com

Invite and host us to show the powerful and inspiring 45 min documentary "Who Killed Emmett Till?" for your next event. Check out the first 7 minutes on Youtube. Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL1vMFwZEus

Experience and Watch #PREACHERMAN this is a moving and powerful video & song tribute to Emmett Till by internationally renowned grammy nominated recording jazz artist Melody Gardot Check it out here:
www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com

Join us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emmett-Till-Legacy-Foundation/138927669624 and

Please Join and Make the Never Again Pledge at the "Never Again" Movement and Pledge Facebook :page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Never-Again-Movement-and-Pledge/136014269806914

Follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/EmmettTill

Instagram: emmetttilllegacyfoundation

For more information about the foundation and to provide in-kind services or sponsor an initiative email us at: emmett_till_legacy@yahoo.com or info@emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com

Check out the blogspot too! http://emmett-till-legacy-of-hope.blogspot.com/

Emmett Till Legacy Foundation is a 501c3 non profit organization "creating a legacy of hope" and building a bridge from the past to the present and future in memory of Emmett Louis Till and in honor of his Mother, Mamie Till Mobley. A donation to support our efforts can be made at http://www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com/