Celebrate Black History Month! Public Figure Profile: Jimmie Lee Jackson
Born: December 16, 1938
Died: February 26, 1965
Jimmie Lee was born in Marion, Alabama. Father of one daughter, he was a Vietnam Veteran and a deacon at his church. Jackson tried several times to register to vote, but he was repeatedly blocked the unfair obstacles many blacks faced when it came to registering.
On February 18th, 1965 Jackson ,along with his mother and grandfather, took part in a night march to protest the arrest of civil right’s leader, James Orange. The march was met with violent opposition from segregationists and police officers.
Jackson and his family ran to Mack’s Cafe, but the police caught up with them. An officer by the name of James Fowler shot Jimmie Lee in the stomach, claiming he thought he was reaching for a gun. Fowler apologized for killing him but maintained that it was in self defense, until 2007 when he was finally charged with the murder. He pleaded to manslaughter and served 6 months. He was also investigated for the killing of another black man, by the name of Nathan Fowler in 1966.
Jackson’s death inspired the Selma to Montgomery march which led to the passing of the Voting Rights Bill. He’s known as a Martyr to the civil right’s movement.