Emmett Till’s Family Wants Justice For Teen, Seek Accusers Prosecution

The family of Emmett Till is not giving up the fight to receive justice for the teen. The U.S. Department of Justice may have closed its investigation into his death, but now his family asks the feds to prosecute the white woman who accused him of whistling at her.

Till, a Black 14-year-old from Chicago, was kidnapped and lynched in 1955 after Carolyn Bryant Donham claimed he inappropriately whistled at her. Donham was named a person of interest for the kidnapping in the original arrest warrant 67 years ago but was never arrested or charged with any crime.

The teen’s family believes that Donham needs to be held responsible for her role in Till’s death. The warrant was never dismissed, so it could be used to arrest her and bring her to trial. 

“This warrant is a stepping stone toward that,” an attorney for the family said. “Because warrants do not expire, we want to see that warrant served on her.”

However, the fight won’t be without its challenges. The location of the warrant is currently unknown. Evidence collected by investigators has been lost, and witnesses have passed away since Till was lynched.