By Jennifer Miranda Jacquelyne By Jennifer Miranda Jacquelyne Antuche, Marisol RomanAntuche, Marisol Roman

Medgar EversMedgar Evers

Early LifeEarly Life

Medgar Evers was born on July Medgar Evers was born on July 2,1925 Decatur, Mississippi he 2,1925 Decatur, Mississippi he died on June 12 1963.died on June 12 1963.

Dropped out of tenth grade in Dropped out of tenth grade in 1943.1943.

Fought in WWII was honorably Fought in WWII was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Sergeantdischarged in 1945 as a Sergeant

Early LifeEarly Life

Enrolled at Alcorn Enrolled at Alcorn State University in State University in 1948 majoring in 1948 majoring in business business administration.administration.

On December On December 14,1951 he married 14,1951 he married classmate classmate Myrlie Myrlie Beasley and had two Beasley and had two children children

Civil Rights Civil Rights

When Medgar Evers was rejected at When Medgar Evers was rejected at the University of Mississippi Law the University of Mississippi Law School he became part of the School he became part of the NAACP.NAACP.

He became a target to so many treats He became a target to so many treats after he became a Civil Rights leader.after he became a Civil Rights leader.

Civil RightsCivil Rights

Evers made public Evers made public investigations on the investigations on the cases on Emmett Till.cases on Emmett Till.

On May 28 ,1963 a On May 28 ,1963 a Molotov cocktail was Molotov cocktail was thrown in to his home.thrown in to his home.

In June he made a In June he made a speech where outline speech where outline the goals for the the goals for the Jackson movementJackson movement

Time line Time line

1925Medgar Wiley Evers was born July 1925Medgar Wiley Evers was born July 2.1935 2.1935

He was in the army until 1945.He was in the army until 1945. 1962Medgar Evers had his friend admitted 1962Medgar Evers had his friend admitted

to the University of Mississippi with the to the University of Mississippi with the help of the US government.help of the US government.

1963Medgar Evers was assassinated on 1963Medgar Evers was assassinated on June 12.June 12.

CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIL RIGHTS

Medgar Evers was one of the first martyrs Medgar Evers was one of the first martyrs of the civil rights movements, whose death of the civil rights movements, whose death prompted President John F. Kennedy to prompted President John F. Kennedy to ask Congress for a comprehensive civil ask Congress for a comprehensive civil rights bill, signed by President Johnson in rights bill, signed by President Johnson in 1964.1964.

The bill, known as the civil rights act 1964, The bill, known as the civil rights act 1964, made illegal all discrimination based on made illegal all discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or national race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.origin.

After death After death

On June 12, 1963, as he was On June 12, 1963, as he was returning home, Medgar Evers was returning home, Medgar Evers was killed by an assassin’s bullet.killed by an assassin’s bullet.

Black and white leaders from around Black and white leaders from around the nation came to Jackson for his the nation came to Jackson for his funeral and then gathered at Arlington funeral and then gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for his interment.National Cemetery for his interment.

After deathAfter death

Following his death, his brother, Charles, Following his death, his brother, Charles, took over Medgar’s position as state field took over Medgar’s position as state field secretary for the NAACP. secretary for the NAACP.

Finally, in a third trial in 1994 (and thirty-Finally, in a third trial in 1994 (and thirty-one years after Evers’ murder), Beckwith one years after Evers’ murder), Beckwith was convicted and sentenced to life in was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. prison.

Finally Finally

The legacy of Medgar Evers is everywhere The legacy of Medgar Evers is everywhere present in the Mississippi of today. This present in the Mississippi of today. This peaceful man, who had constantly urged peaceful man, who had constantly urged that “violence is not the way” but yet did that “violence is not the way” but yet did every thing he could do.every thing he could do.

When Medgar died in 1963, only 28,000 When Medgar died in 1963, only 28,000 blacks were registered voters. By 1971, blacks were registered voters. By 1971, there were 250,000 and by 1982 over there were 250,000 and by 1982 over 500,000 voter ”. 500,000 voter ”.

Pictures Pictures

Biblogphy Biblogphy Internet Sources-Internet Sources- http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/ms-http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/ms-

writers/dir/evers_medgar/writers/dir/evers_medgar/ http://www.biography.com/search/article.dhttp://www.biography.com/search/article.d

o?id=9542324o?id=9542324 http://www.africawithin.com/bios/medgar_http://www.africawithin.com/bios/medgar_

evers.htmevers.htm

The endThe end