Latest news with #EmmettTill
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Emmett Till national monument at risk of removal from Trump's anti-DEI initiatives
Tallahatchie County, Mississippi — There are 138 National Monuments across the U.S., but for the first time in nearly 100 years, they're eligible to be sold for parts. This Juneteenth, some of the protected lands in jeopardy commemorate important moments in American civil rights history, including some newer monuments like the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. "We are seeing this effort to erase and reverse history and historic preservation," said historian Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources and government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association. "This is turning quickly into a dream deferred." Spears advocated for years, alongside several community members, to get federal protections for the areas in Mississippi and Chicago that tell the story of Emmett Till — a 14-year-old Chicago boy who was kidnapped in the middle of the night and brutally lynched in 1955 after reportedly whistling at a White woman while visiting family in Mississippi. "His badly decomposed body was taken from the water, and officials in this area wanted to have him buried immediately to sort of get rid of the evidence," Spears explained. "His mother insisted that he'd be sent back to Chicago, where they had an open casket funeral. And images of Till's badly decomposed body in that open casket really sparked the modern civil rights movement." Protections to preserve this history finally came in 2023, when a monument consisting of two sites in Mississippi and one in Illinois, was designated by former President Joe Biden. One site is located at Graball Landing along the Tallahatchie River near Glendora, Mississippi, where Till's body was found. The second is at the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, where his confessed killers were found not guilty by an all-White jury. The third is located at Chicago's Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, where Till's funeral was held. Spears says he and his colleagues have been working to expand the monument, not remove or shrink it. "Let's make sure it doesn't happen to anybody else's son ever again," Spears said. But just as the stroke of a president's pen preserved these areas, it could now take them away. A legal opinion released by the Justice Department earlier this month gives presidents the ability to revoke or shrink certain national monuments for the first time since the 1930s. The opinion comes as part of a movement against diversity, equity and inclusion, with some land reportedly under consideration to be used for mineral extractions. It's not just national monuments that are at risk. Under newly proposed budget cuts for the National Park Service of nearly $1 billion, Spears says more than 300 park sites would be forced to shut down. Those budget cuts could also potentially see the closure of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, according to Spears and former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "It's like amputating an arm for a hangnail. It's a complete overreaction," Spears says. Sams says the agency has lost 13% of its staff already since he left his post earlier this year. Sams was involved in the designation of five different National Monuments signed by Biden, including the Till monument. He says if the monument were to close, it would be "very sad and egregious." "People don't like to look at their past when it shows a negative light of who we are, and I can understand that nobody likes to look at their own personal past that may have a negative light, but we also know that in order to learn from our own history, we also have to learn from our past mistakes,' Sams told CBS News. "And we, as Americans, have never been actually scared to do so, and I don't think we should be now. We look at our past, and we know that from our past mistakes that we have become stronger." Currently, the Chuckwalla National Monument and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument — both located in California — are under consideration for revocation or being sold for parts. The Baaj Nwaavjo I'tāh Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument is also under consideration reportedly due to its uranium supply. Judy Cummings is touring America's national monuments this summer with her daughter and granddaughter. They drove from Wisconsin to see the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument sites in North Mississippi. Asked about the potential for sites like this to close, Cummings said, "it makes me want to weep and it makes me furious at the same time." When asked about the potential removal of national monuments, White House spokesperson Anne Kelly told CBS News in a statement, "Under President Trump's leadership, Secretary Burgum is keeping our parks ready for peak season, ensuring they are in pristine condition for visitors, and restoring truth and sanity to depictions of American history in line with the President's Executive Order. The President is simultaneously following through on his promise to 'Drill, Baby, Drill' and restore American energy dominance." And in a separate statement provided to to CBS News, the Department of Interior said: "Under President Trump's leadership, we're advancing strategic reforms to maximize resources and improve park operations. These efforts will make our parks more efficient, better maintained, and more enjoyable for the American people, while keeping conservation efforts strong and effective. By modernizing how we manage assets and facilities, we're ensuring our parks can serve future generations even better." "You can't just do away with more than two-thirds of the National Park System because it makes sense from a government efficiency standpoint," Spears said. "That's not what we want." According to a recent study, about half of the current National Parks first began as National Monuments, including the iconic Grand Canyon. According to Spears, every $1 invested in a National Park site returns about $15 to the communities that it is located in. "That's an enormous, enormous return on investment," Spears said. It is also an investment in the visitors too. "I don't really have words," said Nicole Cummings, Judy's daughter. "I just kind of get goosebumps and it's just really powerful." SpaceX Starship upper stage blows up Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico with destructive winds, major storm surge Biden to speak at Juneteenth event in Texas
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
National monument honoring Emmett Till at risk of removal from Trump's DEI initiatives, budget cuts
Tallahatchie County, Mississippi — There are 138 National Monuments across the U.S., but for the first time in nearly 100 years, they're eligible to be sold for parts. This Juneteenth, some of the protected lands in jeopardy commemorate important moments in American civil rights history, including some newer monuments like the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. "We are seeing this effort to erase and reverse history and historic preservation," said historian Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources and government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association. "This is turning quickly into a dream deferred." Spears advocated for years, alongside several community members, to get federal protections for the areas in Mississippi and Chicago that tell the story of Emmett Till — a 14-year-old Chicago boy who was kidnapped in the middle of the night and brutally lynched in 1955 after reportedly whistling at a White woman while visiting family in Mississippi. "His badly decomposed body was taken from the water, and officials in this area wanted to have him buried immediately to sort of get rid of the evidence," Spears explained. "His mother insisted that he'd be sent back to Chicago, where they had an open casket funeral. And images of Till's badly decomposed body in that open casket really sparked the modern civil rights movement." Protections to preserve this history finally came in 2023, when a monument consisting of two sites in Mississippi and one in Illinois, was designated by former President Joe Biden. One site is located at Graball Landing along the Tallahatchie River near Glendora, Mississippi, where Till's body was found. The second is at the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, where his confessed killers were found not guilty by an all-White jury. The third is located at Chicago's Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, where Till's funeral was held. Spears says he and his colleagues have been working to expand the monument, not remove or shrink it. "Let's make sure it doesn't happen to anybody else's son ever again," Spears said. But just as the stroke of a president's pen preserved these areas, it could now take them away. A legal opinion released by the Justice Department earlier this month gives presidents the ability to revoke or shrink certain national monuments for the first time since the 1930s. The opinion comes as part of a movement against diversity, equity and inclusion, with some land reportedly under consideration to be used for mineral extractions. It's not just national monuments that are at risk. Under newly proposed budget cuts for the National Park Service of nearly $1 billion, Spears says more than 300 park sites would be forced to shut down. Those budget cuts could also potentially see the closure of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, according to Spears and former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "It's like amputating an arm for a hangnail. It's a complete overreaction," Spears says. Sams says the agency has lost 13% of its staff already since he left his post earlier this year. Sams was involved in the designation of five different National Monuments signed by Biden, including the Till monument. He says if the monument were to close, it would be "very sad and egregious." "People don't like to look at their past when it shows a negative light of who we are, and I can understand that nobody likes to look at their own personal past that may have a negative light, but we also know that in order to learn from our own history, we also have to learn from our past mistakes,' Sams told CBS News. "And we, as Americans, have never been actually scared to do so, and I don't think we should be now. We look at our past, and we know that from our past mistakes that we have become stronger." Currently, the Chuckwalla National Monument and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument — both located in California — are under consideration for revocation or being sold for parts. The Baaj Nwaavjo I'tāh Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument is also under consideration reportedly due to its uranium supply. Judy Cummings is touring America's national monuments this summer with her daughter and granddaughter. They drove from Wisconsin to see the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument sites in North Mississippi. Asked about the potential for sites like this to close, Cummings said, "it makes me want to weep and it makes me furious at the same time." When asked about the potential removal of national monuments, White House spokesperson Anne Kelly told CBS News in a statement, "Under President Trump's leadership, Secretary Burgum is keeping our parks ready for peak season, ensuring they are in pristine condition for visitors, and restoring truth and sanity to depictions of American history in line with the President's Executive Order. The President is simultaneously following through on his promise to 'Drill, Baby, Drill' and restore American energy dominance." And in a separate statement provided to to CBS News, the Department of Interior said: "Under President Trump's leadership, we're advancing strategic reforms to maximize resources and improve park operations. These efforts will make our parks more efficient, better maintained, and more enjoyable for the American people, while keeping conservation efforts strong and effective. By modernizing how we manage assets and facilities, we're ensuring our parks can serve future generations even better." "You can't just do away with more than two-thirds of the National Park System because it makes sense from a government efficiency standpoint," Spears said. "That's not what we want." According to a recent study, about half of the current National Parks first began as National Monuments, including the iconic Grand Canyon. According to Spears, every $1 invested in a National Park site returns about $15 to the communities that it is located in. "That's an enormous, enormous return on investment," Spears said. It is also an investment in the visitors too. "I don't really have words," said Nicole Cummings, Judy's daughter. "I just kind of get goosebumps and it's just really powerful."
CBC
25-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
5th anniversary of George Floyd's murder marked by calls for reform, barbs at Trump
Police reform and civil-rights activists joined thousands of people on Sunday to mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder and decry U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for setting their efforts back. The Rev. Al Sharpton said at a graveside service with Floyd's family in Houston that Floyd, 46, represented all of those "who are defenceless against people who thought they could put their knee on our neck." He compared Floyd's killing to that of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black child who was abducted, mutilated and slain in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman. "What Emmett Till was in his time, George Floyd has been for this time in history," Sharpton said. Events in Minneapolis centred around George Floyd Square, the intersection where police officer Derek Chauvin used his knee to pin Floyd's neck to the pavement for 9½ minutes, even as Floyd cried "I can't breathe." By midday Sunday, a steady stream of people were paying their respects at a memorial in front of Unity Foods (formerly know as Cup Foods), where Floyd was killed. Across the street, activists had set up a feeding area at an old gas station that has often served as a staging area since Floyd's death. In the middle of the street, a fake pig's head was mounted on a stick. The head wore a police cap. Events started Friday with concerts, a street festival and a "self-care fair," and were culminating with a worship service, gospel concert and a candlelit vigil on Sunday. Even with Minneapolis officials' promises to remake the police department, some activists contend the progress has come at a glacial pace. "We understand that change takes time," Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, said in a statement last week. "However, the progress being claimed by the city is not being felt in the streets." Slow pace of change Activists had hoped that the worldwide protests that followed Floyd's murder on May 25, 2020, would lead to national police reform and focus on racial justice. Under president Joe Biden, the U.S. Justice Department had aggressively pushed for oversight of local police it had accused of widespread abuses. But the Trump administration moved Wednesday to cancel settlements with Minneapolis and Louisville that called for an overhaul of their police departments following Floyd's murder and the killing of Breonna Taylor. Trump also has declared an end to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the federal government, and his administration is using federal funds as leverage to force local governments, universities and public school districts to do the same. Republican-led states have accelerated their efforts to stamp out DEI initiatives. In Houston, Sharpton castigated the administration's settlement cancellations, saying they were "tantamount to the Department of Justice and the president spitting on the grave of George Floyd." "To wait to the anniversary and announce this, knowing this family was going to be brought back to the brokenheartedness of what happened shows the disregard and insensitivity of this administration," he said. "But the reason that we will not be deterred is that Trump was president when George Floyd happened and he didn't do anything then. We made things happen. And we're going to make them happen again." Detrius Smith of Dallas, who was visiting the Floyd memorial site with her three daughters and five grandchildren, told one granddaughter about how people globally united to decry racial injustice after Floyd's murder. "It just really feels good, just really to see everybody out here celebrating the life, and the memories of George Floyd and just really remembering what happened," Smith said. "We want to do everything we can to work together so everybody can have the same equal rights and everybody can move forward and not have something like that to continue to happen in this nation."
CBS News
27-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Justice Department halts funds for programs for victims of hate crimes, child abuse, school violence and more
CBS News has obtained a list of 365 federal grant programs halted this week by the Justice Department, disrupting programs to help victims of hate crime and sex trafficking, children who've suffered violence, and refugees. The department also paused programs aimed at reducing school shootings, efforts to combat domestic terror and an Emmett Till cold case initiative in the Southeast. At least some of the grants were halted in memos sent Tuesday to nonprofit organizations by the Justice Department. The memos alerted program operators that the projects no longer "effectuate" Justice Department priorities. The cancellation of the federal grants caused disruptions at some nonprofit programs, according to organization leaders who spoke with CBS News. The head of a nonprofit that helps youth crime victims in Oakland, California, called the funding freeze a "devastating blow." Nancy Smith told CBS News she made plans to lay off 10 employees from her national "Activating Change" nonprofit, which helps provide sign language interpreters and legal aid to crime victims with disabilities and hearing impairments. Smith said 40% of her budget disappeared overnight. The list was provided by a federal source with oversight over the agency's funding of federal grant programs. Programs halted by Justice Department Obtained by CBS News The Justice Department told CBS News at least two of the grant funds, however, for the National Center for Victims of Crime in Maryland and The National Network to End Domestic Violence in Washington, D.C., have been restored since last week's memo was sent. The National Center for Victims of Crime, in Landover, Maryland, warned CBS News on Thursday that it planned to shutter its national crime victims hotline because of the cancellation of its Justice Department grant. The hotline receives approximately 16,000 calls from crime victims every year. But one day after a CBS News report about the prospect that the hotline would be shuttered, the organization's director notified CBS News that the Justice Department restored the grant money. A Justice Department spokesperson told CBS News the organizations that have lost their grant funding awards will have 30 days to appeal the decision. "We are confident that these cuts are consistent with the administration's priorities while at the same time protecting services that tangibly impact victims," the spokesperson said. The list of 365 grant programs notified of grant cancellations includes a broad array of initiatives to help crime victims and prevent violence. The impacted organizations include a San Francisco-based organization that seeks to reduce hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a New York organization that works to reduce school shootings, the "Emmett Till cold case investigations and prosecution program" in New Orleans, the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd hate crimes training and technical assistance" initiative for crime reduction in Florida, a Michigan group that supports re-entry for young offenders and a Virginia group that helps human trafficking and sex victims. Renee Williams, the executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, said she's grateful the Justice Department restored her grant funding, but told CBS News "our partners are still battling." Williams said the organization's crime victim hotline is a critical tool for those who suffer violence. Williams told CBS News, "After calling us, countless victims indicated that they had nowhere else to turn, but found hope, help, and comfort from our services." Joe Griffin, executive of director of California-based Youth Alive! told CBS News the interruption of his group's federal grant would have a devastating impact on community initiatives. "To do this ahead of summer, when we know there will likely be an uptick in violence, is really troubling," Griffin said. "We need our government to show up for our young people the way we do—every day, without fail." Other projects that were notified of terminations of their federal grants include the following: A Memphis, Tennessee, group that helps provide victims advocacy and support for non-English speaking crime victims An Atlanta project that supports crime victims under the age of 18 A Bronx, N.Y. initiative to prevent overdoses A Chicago-based study of elder-abuse victims A Florida project to help ensure the safety of correctional officers A Virginia-based project to help human trafficking victims.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: April 4-6
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Take some time to unwind with friends, family or yourself this weekend. Below you'll find a list of some fun events going on this weekend (April 4-6) around Mississippi. – Jackson – Friday This year's festival will highlight the life and legacy of Emmett Till and will open with a plenary conversation featuring the staff of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center. – Jackson – Friday Food Truck Friday at 'Thee Vet' is an event held at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, where various food trucks gather to offer a range of culinary options to attendees. – Jackson – Friday Enjoy a night of rapid-fire art talks from local creators, complete with drinks from Fertile Ground Beer Co. and Cathead Distillery and some delicious made-to-order food provided by us. – Natchez – Friday Gospel music star Ditty Blaylock promises a reunion of the Blaylock Sisters, her three adult daughters who were once a national sensation as 'little superstars for Jesus.' But the sisters have been estranged for over twenty-five years-and reconciliation seems impossible. Will the show go on? Gold in the Hills – Vicksburg – Friday Since 1936, Gold in the Hills is the Guinness Book of Worlds Records' longest-running show. – Vicksburg – Friday The Fish Fry will be from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Knights of Columbus. – Vicksburg – Friday Enjoy a family fun night with a bounce house, outdoor activities, and Triple J's Food Truck. – Jackson – Friday and Saturday Jackson Indie Music Week is a celebration of Central Mississippi's independent music scene. – Clinton – Friday and Saturday Hop on over to Olde Towne for Main Street Clinton's Easter Shop Hop! – Natchez – Friday and Saturday Calling all Pickers, Antique-ers, Vintage Scavengers, and Junk Store Enthusiasts: This is the weekend for you! – Natchez – Friday and Saturday Grab your friends and head to Duncan Park for the 32 Annual Natchez Chamber of Commerce golf, tennis & pickleball tournaments! – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Join New Stage as tell the story of the March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of growing up during the American Civil War. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday This exhibition will feature over 50 handmade and machine-stitched quilts from MMA's permanent collection, including Crossroads Quilters, Gwendolyn Magee, and several collected by American photographer Roland L. Freeman on his travels. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers! Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers showcases photographs by Vicksburg-based artist Melody Golding, documenting the resilience of Mississippians after the storm. – Natchez – Friday, Saturday & Sunday The tours offer an intimate look inside the city's grandest homes. – Jackson – Saturday There will be numerous activities and attractions, such as music, space jumps, food trucks, and a car show. – Jackson – Saturday Celebrate the 25th anniversary of NatureFEST! This event is a festival, a nature outing, and a fascinating museum trip all wrapped into one exciting day! – Jackson – Saturday The Mississippi Museum of Art offers free admission to exhibitions, drop-in artmaking, and a free guided tour on the first Saturday of every month as part of Access for All. – Jackson – Saturday From persimmons to peaches, from bok choy to butter beans, the Mississippi Farmers Market is the one place to go for the freshest fruits and vegetables that are grown in the state. – Brandon – Saturday The 2025 Crawfish Crawl will take place in the City of Brandon on Saturday, April 5. – Natchez – Saturday Dearest Gentle Reader, if you fancy an intimate costume ball set in a stunning turn of the century home (1800 that is!) you'll want to attend the Bridgerton Ball at Holly Hedges. – Natchez – Saturday The symposium will include panels on race relations in the past in Natchez, storytelling through the arts and voices of the future. – Natchez – Saturday The event will be held at the Natchez City Auditorium. – Natchez – Saturday Every week there will be live fresh produce, baked goods, fresh dairy, and arts and crafts all from local growers and artists. – Ridgeland – Saturday Enjoy a full spectrum of jazz artists for free! – Ridgeland – Saturday Learn watercolor tips and tricks! Miss Mississippi Pickleball Tournament – Vicksburg – Saturday Tournament proceeds will benefit the Miss Mississippi contestants. Waking Ned Devine – Vicksburg – Saturday This film event will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Strand Theatre. Bud Lokey Memorial Barbeque Competition & Flea Market – Vicksburg – Saturday All proceeds benefit Haven House and Micah's Mission. – Ridgeland – Saturday and Sunday Featuring local vendors, seasonal treats, and perfect finds for every occasion, this is the event you won't want to miss. 42nd Annual Priest Education Fund Spaghetti Dinner – Vicksburg – Sunday This event will be from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall. – Hattiesburg – Friday Enjoy performances by a diverse lineup of talented musicians, ranging from local favorites to regional acts, covering various genres to suit all musical tastes. – Hattiesburg – Friday See Elmo and his friends during Sesame Street Live! – Laurel – Friday Enjoy karaoke at 320 5th St. in Laurel. – Laurel – Friday Join Museum Director George Bassi for an engaging and informational walking tour of Laurel's historical district as he traces the history and evolution of the city and some of it's finest homes and structures. – Laurel – Friday and Saturday The 53rd Annual Bibletones' Homecoming has a new name and a new location for 2025! – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum has a new exhibit every month, so be sure to head downtown for a small surprise! Hattiesburg Half Marathon, 10K, 5K – Hattiesburg – Saturday In its 13th year, the Hattiesburg Half Marathon attracts runners to the Hub City from all over the Gulf South Puppy Yoga – Hattiesburg – Saturday Proceeds from this event will benefit the Hub City Humane Society, helping support local animals in need. SoMiSPO 30th Anniversary Concert – Hattiesburg – Saturday A night celebrating 30 years of the Southern Miss Steel Pan Orchestra! Featuring multiple world-renowned guest artists, the SoMiSPO Alumni Band and much more. Spring Plant Sale – Hattiesburg – Saturday Proceeds will benefit the outreach programs Lake Thoreau Environmental Center. Come get your hands dirty and help support your local nature center! – Hattiesburg – Saturday This exhibition delves into the dreamlike and illogical world of surrealism, inviting viewers to explore the depths of their own subconscious. – Hattiesburg – Sunday Wizard of Oz on Ice is a dazzling adaptation of the beloved classic, featuring breathtaking figure skating, vibrant costumes, and stunning special effects. Kids Market Consignment Event – Hattiesburg – Sunday Enjoy a pop up consignment event to shop for children's clothing, shoes, toys, books, games, baby gear and just about anything else a child needs. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
