Emmett Till Antilynching Act

In December 2021, the United States Congress passed H.R. 55 also known as the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. Originally introduced by U.S. Rep Bobby L. Rush (D-Illinois) this legislation would make lynching a federal hate crime. The H.R. 55 legislation would be the first time in American history where lynching would be considered a federal hate crime. According to research from the Equal Justice Initiative, from 1865 to 1950 more than 6,500 African Americans were lynched in the United States.

Regarding the passage of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, Representative Rush said: "It has been more than 120 years since the first antilynching bill was introduced in Congress. Despite nearly 200 attempts since then to codify lynching as a federal crime, it has never been done. The Emmett Till Antilynching Act would correct this historical injustice and ensure that the full force of the United States federal government is always brought to prosecute those who commit the monstrous act of lynching. Passage of this bill will show that our nation understands the heinous legacy of lynching and begin the process of closing this shameful chapter of our history."

Emmett Till (July 25, 1941 - August 28, 1955) was a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Drew, Mississippi. Till's death helped bring attention to the civil rights movement in the United States.  

For more information about the Emmett Till Antilynching Act visit: https://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-statement-passage-emmett-till-antilynching-act-through-house

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