Explore Sumner’s Civil Rights History – US Civil Rights Trail
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    Sumner

    A Child’s Murder, a Nation’s Outrage

    Sumner, Mississippi, was the home of one of the most pivotal cases of the Civil Rights Movement – the Emmett Till murder trial. Sumner and the town of Money, about 30 miles south, became national focal points after Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam brutally murdered 14-year-old Till and were later acquitted of any charges at their trial at the Sumner courthouse. Till became an emblem of the Civil Rights Movement because his story shed light on the horrific treatment of African-Americans in Mississippi and the South. Today, his memory is preserved in these cities through historical markers, an interpretive center and various initiatives in his honor.

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    When you’re ready to experience the history of the United States Civil Rights Trail firsthand, download a state itinerary. These guides have information about the sites you can visit in each state as well as directions and other useful tools to help you successfully plan your trip.

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