Half of Jackson State University’s Alexander Hall is currently under renovation, but it stands as silent testament to Jackson, Miss.’s part in the Civil Rights Era.
On May 15, 1970, restless students and community members gathered on John R. Lynch Street outside Alexander Hall, a women’s dormitory at the center of the campus. The mood was tense in the wake of the Kent State University riots. NPR collected oral history from students that stated it was common for white motorists to harass and threaten students as they drove down Lynch Street.
Law enforcement responded to complaints of student upheaval, and patrolmen armed with shotguns opened fire on the protestors, killing two and wounding a dozen more. A federal inquiry was ordered on the incident, which found the violence was out of scale in relation to the situation.
The President's Commission on Campus Unrest reported over 140 bullet holes marred Alexander’s exterior. Today, this wing of Alexander Hall stands battle-pocked and empty, but students say its history isn’t forgotten.
Half of Alexander Hall is open, housing young men like Kaleb Clear, a freshman social work major from Stone Mountain, Ga. “I am realizing that my home is a living historical hotspot. The history is heartbreaking but look where we are now.”
Moeshia Harmon, a sophomore chemistry/pre-medical major from Mobile, Ala. has mixed emotions as she passes Alexander Hall. “When I walk by it reminds me of what happened… what they had to go through, and also it’s like motivation in a way.”
Erykah K. Robinson, a freshman social work major from Chicago, agrees. “It’s amazing to feel like I'm walking on a monument every day… People should appreciate this place way more. Sacrifices were made.”
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