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It's late September 1955 inside Sumner County Courthouse in Mississippi. Mississippi, a few weeks after Emmett Till's funeral. While a ceiling fan beats the sweltering courtroom air, Moses Wright gets to his feet and approaches the witness stand. The 64 year old preacher is about to provide his testimony in the trial of Roy Bryant and J.W. milam, the man accused of abducting and murdering Moses great nephew Emmett Till. Moses adjusts his shirt collar and gazes out nervously at the sea of white faces. The spectators and reporters can hardly believe what they're witnessing. This seems like the first time in the history of the Deep south that a black person has testified against white defendants. Moses glances over at Bryant and Milam. They are leaning back in their seats with arms crossed and bored expressions on their faces. The prosecuting attorney proceeds to ask Moses a series of questions about the night of Emmett's kidnapping. Moses answers as best he can, but the hostility in the room is so, so palpable. Moses feels as if he's the one on trial. Finally, the attorney asks if Moses can identify the man who abducted Emmett. Moses hesitates. Then, slowly, he raises a finger and points at Bryant and Milam, saying loudly, there they are. There's an audible intake of breath in the courtroom. The defendants glower at the preacher and Moses knows that after speaking out like this, he will either have to leave Mississippi or spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. But both of those are better than not speaking up at all. After identifying Bryant and Milam, the lawyer turns to the main argument of the defense. That the body pulled out of the Tallahatchie river was not that of Emmett Till. As the first person to positively identify the remains, Moses assures the jury that the body was most definitely that of his great nephew. For while the corpse was bloated and disfigured, he recognized the signet ring that bore the initials of Emmett's late father. The defending lawyer disputes Moses claims, reminding the jury that the presence of a ring does not prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt. But then the prosecutor calls his next witness, someone whose testimony ought to move even the most hard hearted of jurors. Emmett's mother, Mamie Till Bradley. Mamie stands and walks slowly to the witness box, clutching her purse to stop her hands from trembling. Mamie's decision to testify today was not an easy one. The media coverage of her son's murder has provoked a strong defensive reaction from many in Mississippi. A few days ago, the executive secretary of the NAACP declared that the state of Mississippi has decided to maintain white supremacy by murdering children. After hearing this, many local people who previously condemned Bryant and Milam subsequently reversed their position, objecting to the criticism of their state in the northern press. So Mamie knows that by traveling to Mississippi, she's entering a potentially dangerous environment. But she doesn't care. She's determined to do everything in her power to help convict her son's murderers. By even making it to trial, this case has already become unusual. The majority of lynchings and murders in the south go unpunished, with the authorities usually choosing to turn a blind eye. It won't be easy, but Mamie is determined not to let that happen today. Fighting back tears, she tells the courtroom that Emmett was a sweet, gregarious and law abiding boy who never got in trouble with the police in Chicago. She adds that the body discovered in the river was undisputably that of her son. After Mamie's testimony, the prosecution calls another witness who confirms that he saw Bryant and Milam drag Emmett into a barn. Then he describes the horrifying sounds and screams that he heard from inside as the two suspects proceeded to savagely beat the teenager. By the time the prosecution rests its case, the Mamie is feeling confident that the defendant's guilt has been proven beyond all reasonable doubt. But then the defense calls its witness to the stand. Carolyn Bryant, the 21 year old store clerk and wife of the defendant, Carolyn, claims that on the night of the 24th, while she was locking up the store, Emmett grabbed her by the wrist and asked her for a date. When she refused, she claims, Emmett seized her by the waist and made sexually explicit remarks. A ripple of shock passes through the courtroom. The judge rules Carolyn's statement as inadmissible, given her lack of proof and the fact that she's married to the defendant. But as Mamie watches the faces of the all white jury, her heart sinks. They clearly believe Carolyn's story and there's no doubt which way the verdict will go. Sure enough, a few days later, the jurors will return from an hour long deliberation to declare their verdict of not guilty. Despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary, Emmett Till's murderers will be declared innocent of all charges. But though his killers will walk free, Emmett Till's death will not be in vain. This miscarriage of justice will inflame the hearts and minds of the next generation of young black Americans who will take up Emmett's legacy and use the tragic story of his murder to inspire. It's November 27, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, a month after the murder trial of Emmett Till. Hundreds of people stream inside one of the city's churches here to listen to a speech by the civil rights activist, Dr. T.R.M. howard. In the months since Emmett Till's murderers were acquitted, there has been a widespread outpouring of anger in black communities across America. The image of Emmett's mutilated face has acted as a powerful reminder of how the fight for civil rights is not just a question of representation and equality, but one of life and death. Among the congregation today is a 42 year old seamstress named Rosa Parks. Like many in her community, Rosa was horrified by the events surrounding Emmett Till's murder and the subsequent trial. But she has also been inspired by the incredible courage of Emmett Till's mother, Mamie Till Bradley. She's been campaigning relentlessly to ensure that Emmett's story is not forgotten. And when Rosa heard that Dr. Howard would be speaking today about Emmett Till, she knew she had to come and listen. Rosa watches as the church's 26 year old minister, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Takes to the pulpit. As he welcomes the congregation, Rosa marvels at how articulate and self assured the reverend is. After introducing the day's speaker, Reverend King steps down from the pulpit and the doctor takes his place. Dr. Howard adjusts his spectacles and peers out across the packed church with a grave expression. Then he launches into his sermon, railing against the disgraceful way that Emmett Till's killers have been able to walk free. He urges the congregants to think of Emmett the next time their basic civil liberties are challenged and to stand up for what is right. Rosa will take Dr. Howard's words to heart. A few days later, while riding a city bus in Montgomery, Rosa will be told by the driver to give up her seat for a white passenger. But instead of following orders, Rosa will think of Emmett Till. Reflecting on the terrible sacrifice Emmett made will give Rosa the strength to stand up to the bus driver and refuse to move to the back. Rosa Parks courageous act of defiance will become another pivotal moment in the emerging civil rights movement. Over the course of the next 10 years, black communities across America will come together to participate in public demonstrations, marches and acts of protest in their struggle to end racial segregation and systemic discrimination. This new generation of young black activists and civil rights leaders will become known as the Emmett Till Generation, a testament to the impact of the 14 year old boy who invigorated a movement after his brutal murder on August 28, 1955. Next on History Daily August 29, 1533. The last emperor of the Inca Empire dies by strangulation at the hands of Spanish conquistadors. From Noiser and Airship, this is History Daily Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Mohammed Shahzeeb Sound design by Molly Bach Music by Lindsey Graham. This episode is written and researched by Joe Viner. Executive producers are Alexandra Curry Buckner for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.
