Medgar Evers Assassinated (1963)
Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist, was assassinated on June 12, 1963, in Jackson, Mississippi. His murder marked a significant and tragic turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the extreme violence and resistance faced by those fighting for racial equality in the United States. This comprehensive article explores the life of Medgar Evers, the events leading to his assassination, the investigation and trials that followed, and the impact of his death on the Civil Rights Movement and American society.
Early Life and Activism
Background and Education
Medgar Wiley Evers was born on July 2, 1925, in Decatur, Mississippi, to James and Jessie Evers, farmers and devout Christians. Growing up in the racially segregated South, Evers experienced firsthand the harsh realities of racism and discrimination. His early life was marked by a desire to challenge the injustices faced by African Americans.
Evers served in the U.S. Army during World War II, fighting in both France and Germany. After the war, he returned to Mississippi and enrolled at Alcorn College (now Alcorn State University), where he majored in business administration. At Alcorn, Evers was an active student, participating in debate, football, track, and various student organizations. He graduated in 1952 and married his college sweetheart, Myrlie Beasley, the same year.
Entry into Civil Rights Activism
Evers’ commitment to civil rights was solidified after he was denied admission to the University of Mississippi Law School due to his race. This experience galvanized him to take action against racial injustice. In 1954, he became the first field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Mississippi. Evers’ role involved organizing voter registration drives, economic boycotts, and investigations into crimes against African Americans.
Key Contributions to the Civil Rights Movement
Voter Registration and Advocacy
One of Evers’ primary focuses was voter registration. He worked tirelessly to overcome the numerous barriers that prevented African Americans from registering to vote, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation. Evers organized and led voter registration drives, often facing violent opposition and threats to his life.
Investigations of Racial Violence
Evers also played a critical role in investigating and publicizing cases of racial violence and injustice. He was instrumental in bringing national attention to the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy lynched in Mississippi in 1955. Evers’ efforts helped to expose the brutal realities of racism in the South and galvanize support for the Civil Rights Movement.
Economic Boycotts and Protests
In addition to his work on voter registration and investigations, Evers organized economic boycotts and protests to challenge segregation and discrimination. He led boycotts of businesses that practiced racial discrimination and organized protests to desegregate public facilities. Evers’ activism made him a target of intense hatred and violence from white supremacists.
The Assassination of Medgar Evers
The Climate of Violence in Mississippi
The early 1960s were marked by escalating violence and tension in Mississippi as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum. White supremacist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, intensified their efforts to maintain racial segregation and suppress the movement. Civil rights activists faced constant threats, harassment, and violence.
The Night of June 12, 1963
On the night of June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers returned home after a meeting with NAACP lawyers. As he got out of his car in the driveway of his home in Jackson, Mississippi, he was shot in the back by a sniper. The bullet shattered his heart, and he collapsed. Evers’ wife, Myrlie, and their three young children witnessed the aftermath of the shooting.
Immediate Aftermath
Medgar Evers was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead less than an hour later. His assassination shocked the nation and underscored the dangerous and violent opposition faced by civil rights activists. The murder occurred just hours after President John F. Kennedy’s nationally televised speech advocating for civil rights legislation.
Investigation and Trials
Initial Investigation and Arrest
The murder weapon, a rifle, was found near the scene with fingerprints that led to the arrest of Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the White Citizens’ Council and an avowed white supremacist. Beckwith was arrested and charged with Evers’ murder, but the road to justice would prove to be long and arduous.
The Trials of Byron De La Beckwith
Beckwith was tried twice in 1964, but both trials ended in hung juries, composed entirely of white men. The defense capitalized on the racial prejudices of the time, and Beckwith remained free despite overwhelming evidence of his guilt.
Renewed Efforts for Justice
Decades later, renewed efforts by Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of Medgar Evers, and other civil rights advocates led to a reopening of the case. In 1994, Byron De La Beckwith was finally convicted of the murder of Medgar Evers in a third trial, based on new evidence and testimonies that had been ignored or suppressed in the earlier trials. Beckwith was sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2001.
Impact on the Civil Rights Movement
National and International Reactions
The assassination of Medgar Evers had a profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement and drew national and international attention to the struggle for racial equality in the United States. Evers became a martyr for the cause, symbolizing the sacrifices made by countless activists in the fight against racial injustice.
Legislative and Social Changes
Evers’ murder, along with other high-profile acts of violence against civil rights activists, galvanized public opinion and increased pressure on the federal government to take action. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were landmark pieces of legislation that sought to address the systemic racism and discrimination that Evers and others had fought against.
Inspiration for Future Generations
Medgar Evers’ legacy continues to inspire future generations of activists and leaders. His commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolent resistance remains a powerful example for those who continue to fight for civil rights and social justice. Evers’ life and work have been commemorated in numerous ways, including schools, streets, and other public institutions named in his honor.
Legacy and Commemoration
Medgar Evers College
In 1970, the City University of New York established Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, in honor of the slain civil rights leader. The college serves as a lasting tribute to Evers’ dedication to education and empowerment for African Americans.
Museums and Memorials
The Medgar Evers House in Jackson, Mississippi, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017. The house, now a museum, preserves Evers’ legacy and educates visitors about his life and the broader Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument was established in 2020, ensuring that future generations can learn about and be inspired by Evers’ contributions.
Cultural Representations
Medgar Evers’ life and legacy have been depicted in various cultural works, including literature, film, and music. His story has been told in books such as “For Us, the Living” by Myrlie Evers-Williams and “Medgar Evers: Mississippi Martyr” by Michael Vinson Williams. The 1996 film “Ghosts of Mississippi,” directed by Rob Reiner, dramatizes the efforts to bring Byron De La Beckwith to justice, with James Woods portraying Beckwith and Whoopi Goldberg as Myrlie Evers.
Final Summary
The assassination of Medgar Evers on June 12, 1963, was a tragic event that underscored the violent resistance to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Evers’ life and work as a civil rights activist made him a target of hatred and violence, but his legacy as a champion for justice and equality endures. His assassination highlighted the urgent need for federal intervention and legislative action to protect the rights of African Americans and dismantle systemic racism.
References
Evers-Williams, M., & Peters, W. (1999). *For Us, the Living*. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.
Williams, M. V. (2011). *Medgar Evers: Mississippi Martyr*. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press.
Dittmer, J. (1994). *Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi*. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Beito, D. T., & Beito, L. R. (2009). *Black Maverick: T.R.M. Howard’s Fight for Civil Rights and Economic Power*. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Marable, M., & Mullings, L. (Eds.). (2009). *Let Nobody Turn Us Around: Voices of Resistance, Reform, and Renewal: An African American Anthology*. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
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