Emmett Till.Photo: Getty
A large metal fan was tied to Til’s neck with barbed wire; he was tossed in the Tallahatchie River.
She died in 2003 at the age of 81, though her legacy lived on.
In 2007, the campaign helped to pass the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007, which ensures the Justice Department and FBI investigate cold cases from the civil rights era.
Mamie Bradley.Getty
On Tuesday, the legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to mother and sonpassed in the Senate.
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A new docuseries calledLet the World See, which explores Till-Mobley’s story from government worker to civil rights activist and educator, premieres on ABC on Thursday.
The series features actress and producerNia Longas the voice of Till-Mobley, and includes commentary and historical analysis from prominent figures like former First LadyMichelle Obama.
Speaking to PEOPLE in a recent interview about the series, Till-Mobley’s cousin Ollie Gordon said the loss of Emett served as “motivation” for her to continue her fight for equal justice.
“I often heard [Till-Mobley] say, ‘Well, what do I have to lose? They’ve taken everything from me. That was the motivation to pick up the torch and continue to fight and advocate for justice and advocate for peace for her son,” Gordon said. “Not just for Emmett, but for all of the lives that have been lost at the hands of bigotry and racism. That was her fight, that was her mission.”
source: people.com
