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After Being Hidden Away from Public View, the Gun Used to Kill Emmett Till is Now on Display

September 2, 2025

of "Emmett Till Murder Weapon Now on Display in Mississippi Museum" A . 45-caliber pistol used to kill 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955, one of the most notorious lynchings that helped spark the civil rights movement, is now exhibited at the Two Mississippi Museums. The weapon and its holster, which belonged to J.W. Milam (one of Till's killers), were acquired from an anonymous Mississippi family not connected to the case and authenticated through FBI records.

Who is affected

  • Emmett Till's family, including his cousin Deborah Watts (co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation) and Rev. Wheeler Parker (who witnessed Till's abduction)
  • Museum visitors and the general public learning about civil rights history
  • The Two Mississippi Museums staff and leadership
  • The anonymous Mississippi family who previously owned the weapon
  • Americans engaged in current debates about how difficult history should be taught

What action is being taken

  • The Two Mississippi Museums is displaying the gun and holster as part of a permanent exhibit about Till's murder
  • The museum is using the artifacts to tell the "whole story" of Till's killing, including that he was shot
  • The Emmett Till Interpretative Center recently held a multi-day commemoration program marking the 70th anniversary of Till's murder
  • The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is maintaining its commitment to tell "the unvarnished truth" about civil rights history despite national debates about teaching difficult history

Why it matters

  • Emmett Till's 1955 murder and his mother's decision to hold an open-casket funeral sparked global outrage and accelerated the civil rights movement
  • The exhibit helps prevent historical erasure by preserving evidence from one of America's most notorious lynchings
  • The display comes amid increased federal scrutiny of museums and debates about how to teach American history, particularly regarding racism
  • The artifacts provide a tangible connection to a pivotal event in civil rights history that continues to resonate 70 years later
  • The weapon's display helps complete the historical record by highlighting that Till was shot in addition to being beaten

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

After Being Hidden Away from Public View, the Gun Used to Kill Emmett Till is Now on Display