EMMETT TILL DAY RESOLUTION To Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Emmett Till's Death

ATLANTA - June 23, 2015 - PRLog -- 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.

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

Help us Commemorate, Remember, Honor and #NeverForget Emmett Till. This year will mark the 60th Anniversary of a life taken for more than a whistle. Join us! Wear Black and White on his birthday July 25, and on the anniversary of his death Aug 28.

The 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 tax deductible donation to support our efforts can be made at http://www.emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com/

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

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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