The Emmett Till Legacy Foundation (ETLF) honors the memory of Emmett Till who, at only 14 years old, was kidnapped, brutally tortured, lynched and killed in 1955 during a racially-motivated hate crime. Our mission is to bring truth, justice and healing, which can mean a full accounting of crimes committed and exhaustive investigations, to the families of victims of unsolved murders committed during the civil rights era. This era is roughly 1954 to 1969 but suspicious cases through December 31, 1979 can also be reopened. The ETLF is committed to educating communities about this era, demonstrating its parallels today, building an intergenerational knowledge that stresses the importance of: never forgetting the past, engaging in non-violent justice and building a legacy.

We also are committed to educate, equip, inspire and empower today’s youth, women and their families for a better tomorrow. While, collaborating with others and connecting to the broader struggle for peace, nonviolence, civil and human rights, social and economic justice, criminal justice reform and the fight against hate that impacts us all.