"I decided that I would start with his feet, gathering strength as I went up," said Mamie Till, Emmett Till's mother. "I paused at his mid-section, because I knew that he would not want me looking at him. ... I kept on up until I got to his chin. Then I was forced to deal with his face."

Watch clip

Today Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT)  denounced Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) announcement that he would place a hold on The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which was passed in the House of Representatives yesterday by a vote of 422 to 2 and scheduled to be passed by unanimous consent in the Senate today.  Today marks the anniversary of the kidnapping and murder of three young civil rights workers (Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner) in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and is also the anniversary of Edgar Ray Killen’s conviction for those crimes two years ago.  

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) issued the following statement today upon the Senate Judiciary Committee’s passage of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, legislation that he introduced in February 2007 with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT):

“Today, Congress came one step closer to righting the wrongs of the past and bringing to justice people who have perpetrated heinous crimes based on racial hatred.  I commend Chairman Leahy and my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for taking action on this important piece of legislation.  While this bill cannot alter history or heal the wounds incurred by these senseless acts of violence, it can work to restore belief in the fairness of our justice system.  I hope that the full Senate will join me in reaffirming our nation’s commitment to seek the truth and work to make equal justice a reality by passing the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.” 

“The courage and fortitude these men displayed is exceptional, and this long overdue honor is well-deserved.  That the airmen made such great sacrifices on behalf of a country that marginalized them for so long is a testament to their true patriotism.  Their service during World War II was influential not only in helping America win the war, but also in encouraging the breakdown of racial barriers here at home.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today introduced legislation creating a memorial to honor the role both freed and enslaved African Americans played in fighting for our nation’s independence during the American Revolution. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ).