Bill Text: MS SC538 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 538 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Emmett Till murder; issue apology for state's role in killers' acquittals.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-03-29 - Died In Committee [SC538 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2019-SC538-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Norwood, Witherspoon, Frazier, Butler, Horhn

Senate Concurrent Resolution 538

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION APOLOGIZING FOR THE ROLE MISSISSIPPI PLAYED IN THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL AND THE ACQUITTAL OF HIS KILLERS.

WHEREAS, on August 28, 1955, Emmett Till, a young African-American teenager from Argo, Illinois, who was visiting his great uncle in Money, Mississippi, found himself the central target of implication which ultimately resulted in being kidnapped, bludgeoned, and brutally murdered; and

WHEREAS, after Till's beaten, broken, disfigured and drenched body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River, it was returned to Chicago, where his mother, Mamie Till Bradley, insisted on an open casket so that the world could witness the horrendous nature of her son's killing; and

WHEREAS, in light of the recent confession on the part of Carolyn Bryant that her story which led to the death of 14-year-old Emmett Till was fabricated and nothing but falsehoods, the time has come for Mississippi to apologize for its part in creating an environment that led to the murder of Emmett Till, the murder's defense by Mississippi's citizens and leaders, and the acquittal of the murderers; and

WHEREAS, the principles espoused by the founding fathers would be affirmed, and great strides toward unifying all Mississippians and inspiring the nation accomplished if the state acknowledged its role in the murder of Emmett Till and the acquittal of his killers:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we express our profound regret for the State of Mississippi's role in providing an environment for the beliefs and ideologies that led to the horrific and unnecessary murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till and that we apologize for the part the state played in the acquittal of his murderers, and express deepest sympathy and solemn regrets to the family of Emmett Till, for depriving him of his life, human dignity and those constitutional protections accorded to all citizens of the United States, and we encourage the remembrance and teachings about the history of the Civil Rights Movement, particularly that of Emmett Till, to ensure that the tragedies will neither be forgotten nor repeated.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the intent of the Senate and House of Representatives that this resolution shall not be used in, or be the basis of, any type of litigation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be furnished to each state-elected official of Mississippi; the Commissioner of Institutions of Higher Learning; the President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Mississippi Chapter; and the Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Mississippi Chapter, requesting that they further disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective constituents so as to apprise them of the sense of the Mississippi Legislature in this matter; and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.