I get upset when I read the diaries on people's yard signs being torn down and/or vandalized, but I know that people can put them up again, or replace them with "You can knock down my sign, but I'll still vote!" signs, etc. This had me incensed!
A sign marking the site where Emmett Till's battered body was pulled from a river in 1955 has been ripped down by vandals, authorities said. The sign posted on a road near the Tallahatchie River was among eight that were erected after the county adopted a resolution last year apologizing to Till's family because an all-white jury acquitted two white men of murdering Till for whistling at a white woman.
More below
But then I was reminded of the words of one of my personal heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
The sad part is that the actions of the hate-filled criminals who did this do not speak for the majority of people in Mississippi. There is some wonderful work being done by the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconcilliation.
William Winter Institute for Racial Reconcilliation
What really inspired me were the words of the President of the Emmett Till Memorial Commission.
"We're not going to tolerate them tearing down anything that's marking Emmett Till's murder," Board of Supervisors President Jerome G. Little said Monday. "I want to send a message: Every time they take it down, we're going to put it back up."
Then, I read this:
John Wilchie said the signs are part of a tourism effort to raise money to renovate the old courthouse in Sumner, where the trial of Bryant and Milam was held, and create a museum devoted to the case. Little said the county already has raised $4 million of the $7 million that's needed for the project.
"We see where some large tire prints are right there where they pulled up from the sign and went straight to the bank of the river. We feel they might have thrown it in there, but we're not for sure," said Wilchie, a member of the biracial Emmett Till Memorial Commission.
So I searched for the website for the Emmett Till Memorial Commission and found this: http://www.etmctallahatchie.com/...
I am inspired by Jerome Little's words and so I am sounding a battle cry to all Kossaks, "Every time they take it down, we're going to put it back up." Let's donate to the cause!
Donate Here (Make sure to click "other" and type "Emmett Till Memorial Commission" in the box.)
I called the foundation to make sure that contributions would reach the Emmett Till Memorial Commission. The man I spoke with, David Molina was very helpful and said any contributions would be welcome. To make sure your donation reaches the right place or with any questions on sending paper checks or for more on the William Winter Institute, email David Molina: mdmiguel@olemiss.edu
I already pitched in $20! Let's put it back up!
UPDATE: I just received the following response from the William Winter Institute:
> Mr. S******* (Texican),
Our project coordinator shared with me news of your call and your amazing blog. Thanks so much for joining with the local community in Tallahatchie County to fight racism and bigotry.
In the group's meeting last week, they voted to create an account for themselves at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The weekend's vandalism caught them without an account, but it has now been created. I would appreciate it so much if you could update your blog to reflect that folks may either send checks to the address below or call with a credit card donation. That way, the funds go directly to the community instead of coming through us. Your blog has already generated a great response and we'll be forwarding those monies to the newly-established account.
So, folks may send a check to the "Emmett Till Memorial Commission" c/o:
Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi
321 Losher St.
Hernando, MS 38632
or you may call them if you'd prefer to use a credit card:
662.449.5002
Thanks again so much!!