The casket will remain open because the work is not finished. On August 28, we opened the Emmett Till 71st Year Anniversary Commemoration weekend activities and Educational Tour at the Mississippi State Capitol. The opening press conference was a gathering of powerful voices connecting the history of Emmett Till to the continuing fight for justice, accountability, and the struggle for voting, economic, civil, and human rights. The press conference brought together Emmett Till family members, impacted families, civil rights-era families, legislators, attorneys, scholars, social justice advocates, faith leaders and community leaders. OPENING PRESS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS Deborah Watts, ,cousin of Emmett Till and co-founder Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Mayor John Horhn, Jackson, MS Commissioner De'Keither A. Stamps Dennis Dahmer, son of Vernon Dahmer Paula C. Johnson, Professor of Law, Syracuse University, Co-Director, Cold Case Justice Initiative. Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Woman of Courage Awardee Jaribu Hill, Attorney and Founder, Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights Cephus X Johnson, "Uncle Bobby" uncle of Oscar Grant, Oakland, CA Reverend Eric D. Williams, Pastor, Farish Street Baptist Church Jackson, MS Emmett's tragic death at the tender age of 14, on August 28, 1955, became a defining catalyst of the modern Civil Rights Movement. The March on Washington memorial event being held in Washington, D.C. this weekend was first held on the 8th anniversary of Till’s murder, in 1963, a direct result of Emmett's tragic death which inextricably ties these two events together. The 71st Anniversary Commemoration Weekend is not simply an anniversary. It is an opportunity to examine what America has learned, what remains unresolved and what responsibility each generation carries forward. It remains open so that we continue to look at the truth, learn from history, honor the stolen lives, elevate the voices of impacted families, educate our youth and inspire the next generation of leaders. #EmmettTill #MamieTillMobley #EmmettTill71 📸 Emmett Till Legacy Foundation and The Jackson Advocate