For Immediate Release: March 29, 2022

Emmett Till’s Family Stands with President Biden as the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act is Signed Into Law

(Washington, D.C.) — Emmett Till’s family stood solemnly and appreciatively next to President Joe Biden as he signed into law the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, which for the first time in United States history designates lynching as a federal hate crime. Reverend Wheeler Parker, Emmett Till's cousin and best friend, and last living witness to Till's abduction in 1955, and his wife, Dr. Marvel Parker, were invited to the White House by the President.

The Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act (H.R. 55) criminalizes lynching and makes it punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The bill, introduced by Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives 422–3 in February. Earlier this month, the legislation unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. Despite this bill passing both chambers of Congress with virtually no opposition, it took more than 200 different attempts since 1900 to codify antilynching legislation.

Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. said, “My cousin was a bright, promising 14-year-old from Chicago. My family was devastated that no one was held responsible for the abduction, torture, and murder of Emmett. But we are heartened by this new law, which shows that Emmett still speaks in powerful ways to make sure that no one can get away with a racist crime like this ever again. The wheels of justice grind so slowly, but I and the Till Institute appreciate Congressman Rush and President Biden for their leadership to continue to grind, and to enshrine in law that lynching is a federal hate crime.”

Dr. Marvel Parker, Executive Director of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, said, “This law is an important step in the right direction. But there is more work to be done. The creation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Memorial, to forever inscribe Emmett and Mamie’s story though the interpretive sites in Chicago and in the Mississippi Delta, would solidify Mamie Till-Mobley's desire to make sure her son did not die in vain. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and National Park Conservation Association to preserve this American story, reckon with the past, and create a path toward understanding, reconciliation, and healing.”

“Emmett Till’s 1955 lynching is the first Black Lives Matter story, and galvanized the civil rights movement,” Christopher Benson, President of the Till Institute board, said, “For people of color, lynching has been a ubiquitous part of American life following Reconstruction, as an act of racial power to enforce place in our society. This law makes us face our nation’s history, and helps us recognize the need for systemic change to advance the values of a truly multicultural society. We will keep telling Emmet’s story, and tell the stories of countless others who have stood up to injustice and inspire visitors to continue the struggle for racial justice today.”

More information on the Institute’s effort to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Park can be found at TillNationalPark.org.

###

The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, a non-profit organization, is engaged in education, research and social justice advocacy. We are dedicated to preserving the memory and historical significance of the life and death of Emmett Louis Till, and preserving the social action legacy of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, to foster educational opportunities and civic engagement among youth. Our focus is on funding research, education and public programs aimed at encouraging enlightened participation in the democratic process and working to build and maintain a civil society.