On May 25, Jo Etha Collier, an eighteen-year-old Black girl, is shot dead by 3 drunken white males in her hometown of Drew, Miss., less than an hour after she graduated from desegregated Drew High School where she was honored for her achievements in the classroom and on the track field.
She was the daughter of Gussie Love. --A young life taken too soon.
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Rueville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign."
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Ruleville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign." Though Jo Etha was not involved in voter registration, it was well known that random white harrassment and violence always erupted whenever and wherever voter registration efforts were taking place.
The MS NAACP contacted President Nixon requesting something be done about the attacks on black people but the Nixon administration - who had a horrible record on desegregation and using racist dog whistles - never replied.
On Oct 19, 1971, Wesley Parks (26), from Memphis, who had been indicted on murder, got off with a manslaughter conviction. Circuit Judge B. B. Wilkes of Sunflower County sentenced him to a maximum penalty of 20 years in the state penitentiary. He testified that he had been drinking heavily and only vaguely recalled the shooting. The other 2 defendants testified that they didn't know he had a gun and didn't see him shoot but heard a shot and saw him pull the gun back in the window. All three men were initially charged with murder, but only Wesley Parks was tried. Parks eventually served three years of a five year sentence in prison.
In 2004, civil rights author, Susan Klopfer requested the FBI reports on Collier's murder under the Freedom of Information Act, but all records were reportedly "destroyed on March 16, 2004." No reason was given.
**
More from Susan Klopfer:
Civil Rights Stories: Jo Etha Collier
http://susanklopfer.com/category/jo-etha-collier/
She was the daughter of Gussie Love. --A young life taken too soon.
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Rueville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign."
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Ruleville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign." Though Jo Etha was not involved in voter registration, it was well known that random white harrassment and violence always erupted whenever and wherever voter registration efforts were taking place.
The MS NAACP contacted President Nixon requesting something be done about the attacks on black people but the Nixon administration - who had a horrible record on desegregation and using racist dog whistles - never replied.
On Oct 19, 1971, Wesley Parks (26), from Memphis, who had been indicted on murder, got off with a manslaughter conviction. Circuit Judge B. B. Wilkes of Sunflower County sentenced him to a maximum penalty of 20 years in the state penitentiary. He testified that he had been drinking heavily and only vaguely recalled the shooting. The other 2 defendants testified that they didn't know he had a gun and didn't see him shoot but heard a shot and saw him pull the gun back in the window. All three men were initially charged with murder, but only Wesley Parks was tried. Parks eventually served three years of a five year sentence in prison.
In 2004, civil rights author, Susan Klopfer requested the FBI reports on Collier's murder under the Freedom of Information Act, but all records were reportedly "destroyed on March 16, 2004." No reason was given.
**
More from Susan Klopfer:
Civil Rights Stories: Jo Etha Collier
http://susanklopfer.com/category/jo-etha-collier/
On May 25, Jo Etha Collier, an eighteen-year-old Black girl, is shot dead by 3 drunken white males in her hometown of Drew, Miss., less than an hour after she graduated from desegregated Drew High School where she was honored for her achievements in the classroom and on the track field.
She was the daughter of Gussie Love. --A young life taken too soon.
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Rueville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign."
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Ruleville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign." Though Jo Etha was not involved in voter registration, it was well known that random white harrassment and violence always erupted whenever and wherever voter registration efforts were taking place.
The MS NAACP contacted President Nixon requesting something be done about the attacks on black people but the Nixon administration - who had a horrible record on desegregation and using racist dog whistles - never replied.
On Oct 19, 1971, Wesley Parks (26), from Memphis, who had been indicted on murder, got off with a manslaughter conviction. Circuit Judge B. B. Wilkes of Sunflower County sentenced him to a maximum penalty of 20 years in the state penitentiary. He testified that he had been drinking heavily and only vaguely recalled the shooting. The other 2 defendants testified that they didn't know he had a gun and didn't see him shoot but heard a shot and saw him pull the gun back in the window. All three men were initially charged with murder, but only Wesley Parks was tried. Parks eventually served three years of a five year sentence in prison.
In 2004, civil rights author, Susan Klopfer requested the FBI reports on Collier's murder under the Freedom of Information Act, but all records were reportedly "destroyed on March 16, 2004." No reason was given.
**
More from Susan Klopfer:
Civil Rights Stories: Jo Etha Collier
http://susanklopfer.com/category/jo-etha-collier/
She was the daughter of Gussie Love. --A young life taken too soon.
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Rueville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign."
Jo Etha Collier was a promising young lady who had just graduated from Drew High School a few hours earlier, where she was a star student and athlete. Not long after her graduation at approximately 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, she was shot in the head and assassinated while talking with friends in front of a grocery store in the mostly black section of town. Famed civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a "neighbor" who lived in nearby Ruleville, and Hamer was with her that night.
They were shot at from a passing pickup truck containing three white men, which then fled the scene. She was quickly rushed to the hospital where she died around 2 a.m. Hamer was fortunately unharmed.
The three men were finally caught and arrested at a road block in Cleveland, Mississippi - about 20 miles away - they were Wayne Parks (23) and his brother Wesley Parks (26), natives of Drew, and their nephew Allen Wilkenson (19), a native of Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the pistol used in the shooting, there was a 12 gauge Army issue riot gun and an automatic rifle in the pickup.
Upon questioning, they gave no reason for the shooting - or refused to give one. The clueless white Sheriff said the crime "seemed to have no motive". Theories ranged from the men just wanting to kill Black people, to Fannie Lou Hamer being the target. Both theories have some weight because Hamer was a well known Civil Rights figure at the time. But many disagreed, including Hamer who said she was "convinced that Collier's death was connected with the current voter registration campaign." Though Jo Etha was not involved in voter registration, it was well known that random white harrassment and violence always erupted whenever and wherever voter registration efforts were taking place.
The MS NAACP contacted President Nixon requesting something be done about the attacks on black people but the Nixon administration - who had a horrible record on desegregation and using racist dog whistles - never replied.
On Oct 19, 1971, Wesley Parks (26), from Memphis, who had been indicted on murder, got off with a manslaughter conviction. Circuit Judge B. B. Wilkes of Sunflower County sentenced him to a maximum penalty of 20 years in the state penitentiary. He testified that he had been drinking heavily and only vaguely recalled the shooting. The other 2 defendants testified that they didn't know he had a gun and didn't see him shoot but heard a shot and saw him pull the gun back in the window. All three men were initially charged with murder, but only Wesley Parks was tried. Parks eventually served three years of a five year sentence in prison.
In 2004, civil rights author, Susan Klopfer requested the FBI reports on Collier's murder under the Freedom of Information Act, but all records were reportedly "destroyed on March 16, 2004." No reason was given.
**
More from Susan Klopfer:
Civil Rights Stories: Jo Etha Collier
http://susanklopfer.com/category/jo-etha-collier/
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