EMMETT TILL 1941 1955 Emmett Till as a

EMMETT TILL 1941 -1955

Emmett Till as a young boy in Argo, Illinois

Southside Chicago grocery store during the 1940 s

Emmett at 14 years old

Emmett stayed with his Uncle Moses Wright during the summer of 1955 in Money, Mississippi

Bryant General Store in Money, Mississippi Carolyn Bryant was a cashier at her husband’s grocery store in Money. This is where Emmett allegedly flirted with her, asked her for a date and let out a “wolf whistle” at her.

Carolyn Bryant

Evidence This was the cotton gin that was found tied to Emmett’s body when he was pulled from the Tallahatchie river three days after he went missing. A lynching is when a death is carried out by a mob, often by hanging, burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish a victim, control or manipulate a population of people.

Emmett’s Funeral Service September 4 th, 1955

Emmett’s face in his casket His mother insisted that his casket be opened for the public to see her son.

Roy Wilkins Civil Rights Activist, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Wilkins was an important figure during the civil rights movement. He declared Emmett’s death a lynching and brought attention to the country about his death through the NAACP.

Tallahatchie Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi On August 28 th, 1955 Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam were arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder. If convicted, both men could have faced the death penalty.

Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam They were indicted by the grand jury on September 5 th, 1955 on one count each of kidnapping and murder. The kidnapping charge was dropped by the prosecution and they were later acquitted of the murder charge.

The selected jury at the trial Those that attended in the courtroom

NAACP rally in NYC protesting the verdict