Folks, if he were still alive, Emmett Till would be 80 years old today. Instead, his life was tragically and violently cut short by a lynch mob in Mississippi.

The threat of lynching has been used to specifically terrorize generations of Black Americans. That’s why I was proud to support the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act in Congress. This legislation would finally recognize lynching as a federal hate crime due to its implicit targeting of a specific race.

It’s been 66 years since Emmett Till was murdered. We have to tell Congress that lynching is one of the most serious hate crimes in this nation’s history. Will you sign my petition today to let Congress know that this crime is too serious to ignore?

The history of lynching in this country is long and disturbing. It is a fear mongering tool used to keep Black Americans silent and oppressed.

For too long, Congress has failed to recognize the severity of this crime.

It’s up to us to let them know that lynching is a hate crime that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s time to act now. Add your name to let Congress know that lynching should be classified as a federal hate crime.

Thank you for using your voice for justice,

Terri Sewell