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S. C. R. No. 512 *SS08/R405* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Norwood
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 512
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION APOLOGIZING FOR THE ROLE MISSISSIPPI 1
PLAYED IN THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL AND THE ACQUITTAL OF HIS 2
KILLERS. 3
WHEREAS, on August 28, 1955, Emmett Till, a fourteen-year old 4
African-American teenager from Argo, Illinois, who was visiting 5
his great-uncle in Money, Mississippi, found himself the target of 6
false implications, which ultimately resulted in his kidnapping, 7
bludgeoning, and brutal murder; and 8
WHEREAS, after Till's beaten, broken, disfigured and drenched 9
body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River, it was returned to 10
Illinois, where his mother, Mamie Till Bradley, insisted on an 11
open casket so that the world could witness the horrendous nature 12
of her son's killing; and 13
WHEREAS, in light of Carolyn Bryant's recent confession that 14
her inflammatory story, which led to the death of young Emmett 15
Till, was fabricated, Mississippi must now apologize for creating 16
an environment conducive to the torture and murder of Emmett Till, 17
S. C. R. No. 512 *SS08/R405* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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the crime's defense by many Mississippi citizens and leaders, and 18
the shameful acquittal of the murderers; and 19
WHEREAS, the principles espoused by the founding fathers 20
would be affirmed, and great strides toward unifying all 21
Mississippians and inspiring the nation would be accomplished, if 22
our state acknowledged its role in the murder of Emmett Till and 23
the acquittal of his killers: 24
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 25
MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 26
we express our profound regret for the State of Mississippi's role 27
in providing an environment of hostile beliefs and ideologies that 28
led to the horrific, unnecessary murder of fourteen-year-old 29
Emmett Till and offer our apologies for the part Mississippi 30
played in acquitting his murderers, and we express deepest 31
sympathy and solemn regrets to Emmett Till's family for depriving 32
him of his life, human dignity, and those constitutional 33
protections meant to be accorded to all citizens of the United 34
States, and we encourage the remembrance and teachings about the 35
history of the Civil Rights Movement, particularly that of Emmett 36
Till's cruel death and legacy of injustice, to ensure such 37
tragedies will neither be forgotten nor repeated. 38
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the intent of the Senate 39
and House of Representatives that this resolution shall not be 40
used in, or be the basis of, any type of litigation. 41
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ST: Emmett Till murder; issue apology for
state's role in killers' acquittals.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be furnished to 42
each state-elected official of Mississippi; the Commissioner of 43
Institutions of Higher Learning; the President of the National 44
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Mississippi 45
Chapter; and the Director of the Southern Christian Leadership 46
Conference, Mississippi Chapter, requesting that they further 47
disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective 48
constituents so as to apprise them of the sense of regret the 49
Mississippi Legislature feels in this matter; and to the members 50
of the Capitol Press Corps. 51