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H. R. No. 9 *HR43/R1363* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Karriem
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 9
A RESOLUTION APOLOGIZING FOR THE ROLE MISSISSIPPI PLAYED IN 1
THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL AND THE ACQUITTAL OF HIS KILLERS. 2
WHEREAS, on August 28, 1955, Emmett Till, a 14-year-old 3
African-American teenager from Argo, Illinois, who was visiting 4
his great-uncle in Money, Mississippi, found himself the target of 5
false implications, which ultimately resulted in his kidnapping, 6
bludgeoning, and brutal murder; and 7
WHEREAS, after Till's beaten, broken, disfigured and drenched 8
body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River, it was returned to 9
Illinois, where his mother, Mamie Till Bradley, insisted on an 10
open casket so that the world could witness the horrendous nature 11
of her son's killing; and 12
WHEREAS, in light of Carolyn Bryant's recent confession that 13
her inflammatory story, which led to the death of young Emmett 14
Till, was fabricated, Mississippi must now apologize for creating 15
an environment conducive to the torture and murder of Emmett Till, 16
the crime's defense by many Mississippi citizens and leaders, and 17
the shameful acquittal of the murderers; and 18
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WHEREAS, the principles espoused by the founding fathers 19
would be affirmed, great strides toward unifying all 20
Mississippians and inspiring the nation would be accomplished if 21
our state acknowledged its role in the murder of Emmett Till and 22
the acquittal of his killers: 23
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 24
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we express our 25
profound regret for the State of Mississippi's role in providing 26
an environment of hostile beliefs and ideologies that led to the 27
horrific, unnecessary murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till and offer 28
our apologies for the part Mississippi played in acquitting his 29
murderers, and we express deepest sympathy and solemn regrets to 30
Emmett Till's family for depriving him of his life, human dignity 31
and those constitutional protections meant to be accorded to all 32
citizens of the United States, and we encourage the remembrance 33
and teachings about the history of the Civil Rights Movement, 34
particularly that of Emmett Till's cruel death and legacy of 35
injustice, to ensure such tragedies will neither be forgotten nor 36
repeated. 37
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the intent of the House of 38
Representatives that this resolution shall not be used in, or be 39
the basis of, any type of litigation. 40
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 41
furnished to each state-elected official of Mississippi; the 42
Commissioner of Institutions of Higher Learning; the President of 43
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ST: Emmett Till murder; issue apology for
state's role in killers' acquittals.
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 44
Mississippi Chapter; and the Director of the Southern Christian 45
Leadership Conference, Mississippi Chapter, requesting that they 46
further disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective 47
constituents so as to apprise them of the sense of regret the 48
Mississippi Legislature feels in this matter; and to the members 49
of the Capitol Press Corps. 50