Mississippi News
Special ‘Till’ movie screening ahead of premiere
Mound Bayou to host special ‘Till' screening ahead of premiere
Ahead of its nationwide premiere, a film about Mamie Till Mobley's fight for justice after the lynching death of her son Emmett Till will be screened Thursday in Mound Bayou.
“Till”, written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the North Bolivar Consolidated School District at 204 N. Edwards Ave. The movie is set to premiere nationally Friday.
“We cannot wait for audiences everywhere to see the poignant, revealing, heartbreaking yet inspiring film that is ‘Till,'” Deborah Watts, co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation and a Till family member, said in a statement. “For people who fear that they will be traumatized by this story, audiences should know it is first and foremost the story of a mother's love.”
The movie recreated moments that helped galvanize the civil rights movement, such as Mamie Till Mobley getting her son's body to Chicago from Mississippi, her deciding to have an open casket for his funeral and her giving speeches around the country about Emmett.
The film will be released nearly 70 years after Till's death, and family members say justice has not been served.
The U.S. Department of Justice has reopened Till's case several times, but its investigations did not result in new charges.
Despite the newly discovered evidence of the 1955 arrest warrant for Carolyn Bryant Donham, the woman Till allegedly whistled at, and her unpublished memoir, a Leflore County grand jury declined to indict Donham for her role in Till's death.
Mound Bayou, founded and developed by former slaves and their descendants, was the home of civil rights leader Dr. T.R.M. Howard, who is depicted in the Till movie.
Howard opened his home to Mamie Till Mobley, witnesses and Black reporters during the trial of the two white men accused of killing Emmett.
After the men's acquittal, Howard continued to speak about Till's case and other examples of racial violence in Mississippi. He left the state after receiving death threats.
Mound Bayou residents from multiple generations, friends and family of Howard, descendants who were part of the Till trial in 1955, faith leaders and local officials are invited to the movie screening.
Afterwards, Watts and movie co-writer and producer Keith Beauchamp will answer questions.
Those interested in attending the screening can register on Eventbrite.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Houston police search for park vandals
SUMMARY: The Joe Brigance Memorial Park in Houston was vandalized by at least two individuals with the nicknames “Spooky” and “Draco.” The Houston Police Department is looking for the culprits responsible for tagging most of the playground equipment with a paint marker. The park is located across from Houston High School and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them. The police want those responsible to clean up their mess and are seeking community assistance in identifying the vandals. Images of the vandalism were shared on social media in hopes of generating leads.
The post Houston police search for park vandals appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Mississippi lawmakers running out of time to pass Medicaid expansion
SUMMARY: Lawmakers in Mississippi did not hold a vote on Medicaid expansion and instead decided to continue negotiations on the compromise measure. House Democrats opposed the plan privately, fearing the inclusion of a work requirement. They argue that a work requirement would not be effective and could jeopardize Medicaid expansion efforts. Lawmakers have until Thursday to reach an agreement on the issue. Failure to do so could mean Medicaid expansion will not move forward. Rep. Robert Johnson III expressed concerns about the work requirement and its impact on the Medicaid expansion proposal.
The post Mississippi lawmakers running out of time to pass Medicaid expansion appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Jackson man accused of killing mother in shooting
SUMMARY: Michael Grayer, 43, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his mother, Charlean Grayer, in Jackson. The body of Charlean Grayer, 68, was found with a single gunshot wound inside their home on Stokes Robertson Road. Initially, Michael Grayer claimed to have found his mother's body, but evidence led to his arrest. He was charged with murder after investigators recovered a single shell casing at the scene. The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 23, and Michael Grayer was arrested on Wednesday, May 1.
The post Jackson man accused of killing mother in shooting appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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