American Playhouse (1981–…): Season 2, Episode 8 - For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story - full transcript

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MALE ANNOUNCER: Now an
address by the president
of the United States,

speaking live
from Washington.

Good evening,
my fellow citizens.

This afternoon,

following a series of threats
and defiant statements,

the presence of
Alabama National Guardsmen

was required
on the University of Alabama,

to carry out the final
and unequivocal order

of the United States
District Court,

of the northern district
of Alabama.

That order
called for the ignition



of two clearly qualified,
young Alabama residents

who happened to
have been born negro.

I hope that every American,
regardless of where he lives,

will stop and examine
his conscience

about this and other
related incidents.

This station was founded
by men of many nations
and backgrounds.

It was founded
on the principle

that all men
are created equal

and that the rights
of every man are diminished

when the rights of one man
are threatened.

This is not a sectional issue.

MYRLIE: Somewhere
in Mississippi

lives the man
who murdered my husband.

This is their story.



KENNEDY:
We are confronted primarily
with a moral issue.

It is as old
as the scriptures,

and it is clear as
the American constitution.

The heart of the question is

whether all Americans
are to be
afforded equal rights

and equal opportunities.

If an American,
because his skin is dark,

cannot eat lunch
in a restaurant
open to the public,

if he cannot
send his children

to the best public school
available,

if he cannot vote
for the public officials
who represent him,

if, in short, he cannot enjoy
the full and free life
which all of us want,

then who among us
would be content

to have the color
of his skin changed

and stand in his place?

Who among us
would then be content

with the counsels
of patience and delays...

Hey, Daddy's home.

[GUN COCKS]

KENNEDY:
...long for justice...

[GUNSHOT]

Get down!

Oh, God. Medgar?

GIRL: Mommy?

Medgar!

[SCREAMS]

Medgar!

Medgar?

[MEDGAR GROANS]

No!

No!

MYRLIE: The rifle
that shot Medgar
was fired years ago.

The bullet just took
a long time getting here.

But I remember when
the gun was first cocked.

Ten years ago, in Mound Bayou.

[COW MOOING]

MYRLIE: Well, thank you,
Mr. Evers, sir,
for the buggy ride,

but this certainly is not
the way to Sunday School.

MEDGAR: We're not going
to church, Myrlie.

MYRLIE: Surely you're not
bringing an unsuspecting
virgin like myself

to this shack for illicit
and immoral purposes,
are you?

MEDGAR: You'll see, Myrlie.
You'll see.

MYRLIE: Medgar? What...

I'll be right back.

[BABY CRYING]

[ROOSTER CROWS]

What you want, boy?

I'm here to see Mr. Lovett.
He's expecting me.

Lovett, come out here!

LOVETT:
Yes, sir, Mr. Cowshaw!

Queen Ester,
you come get this boy!

Yes, sir,
Mr. Cowshaw, sir.

Get in this house
before I skin you!

Lovett here tells me
you've been tryin' to
sell him some life insurance.

Yes, that's right.
I represent Magnolia Mutual
over in Mound Bayou.

This don't say nothin'
about Magnolia Mutual.

This says N.A.A.C.P.
What does that mean?

It's the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People.

I see it now.

National Association
for the Advancement
of Colored People?

What kind of insurance
is that?

Well, it's not insurance.
It's an organization
to help colored people.

Help colored people do what?

MEDGAR: Well, you see,

most sharecroppers
on cotton plantations
like this one,

can't read or write,

or count the money
they've earned
at harvest time, so, uh...

So what?

So we,

the N.A.A.C.P., that is,

does what it can to help.

If Lovett needs help,
he comes to me.

Don't you, boy?Yes, sir.

As long as I'm here,
you don't need no insurance

or no National Association
for the Advancement
of Colored People.

Is that right?

LOVETT: Yes, sir.

MR. COWSHOW: So,
if I was you,
I'd get in that car,

and I'd get the hell
back to Mound Bayou,
as fast as I could.

Wait a minute, boy,
you forgot somethin'.

You gotta clean up
this mess you made
in Lovett's yard.

Take one more step, boy,
and I'll blow
your damn head off.

Now, you come back here
like I told you
and clean up this mess.

Do it, Medgar, please?

MYRLIE: When we got home,
Medgar brought
his old army pistol

down from the attic.

He placed it
in the glove compartment
of the car

and vowed never to face
such humiliation again.

The other agents
are out in the field
selling insurance,

but not you.

Not Medgar Evers.

He's selling memberships!

Mylrie, I sell insurance.

But that isn't
all these people need,
and you know it!

Of course not.

They need the N.A.A.C.P.

You saw Lovett
grinnin' and shufflin'

and scared to take his eyes
up off the ground.

A wife and ten kids,
all of them hungry,

not one of them
been near a school.

Whole life spent
picking cotton
for the white man,

and what do they get for it?
Nothing.

They're our people, Myrlie.

What else can I do
but try to help them?

You can mind
your own business!

Myrlie?

Those people
are my business.

They'd be your business, too,
if you weren't so busy
feelin' sorry for yourself.

It's not me,
it's these children.

Your children
that I feel sorry for.

Tell me, who do you think
would feed them?

Where would I get
the money to clothe them
and send them to school

if that man out there
had put a bullet through
your brains this morning?

I mean,
you fought in the war,

you did your part
for your country.

Right.
And where did it get us?

Where did it get us?

What's wrong with
what we have, Medgar?

MEDGAR:
What do we have, Myrlie?

I want everything
that everybody else
is entitled to.

We have a family.
Decent jobs.

Myrlie,
I can't keep on sellin'
those people insurance.

I can't keep takin'
their nickels and dimes

and waitin' for them
to die off

so that I can take
their children's
nickels and dimes.

Don't you think
I feel sorry for them, too?

Then you should
want to do something
about it.

Medgar, it's not
our responsibility!

Well, I'm makin' it mine!

You're out of your mind,
Medgar.

Maybe.

Then I guess you'll
just have to
make a decision.

Either you're going to be
the next savior

for all the poor negroes
in Mississippi,

or you're gonna be
a proper husband to me

and a father
to these children,

but you cannot
have it both ways!

No.

No, it is you who has
a decision to make,
Mrs. Evers,

because I cannot
fight their fight
all day long

and then come home
and fight with you
at night.

Either you're with me
or you're not.

The N.A.A.C.P.
is opening a regional
chapter in Jackson.

They've offered me
the job of field director.

I'm going to take it.

MYRLIE: I needed time
to think about
Medgar's decision,

so I took the children
and went to see my mother
and step dad in Yazoo City.

WOMAN ON PA:
Rosedale, Cleveland,

Clarksville, Parks, Melville,

Seneca.

Northbound bus now arriving.

Oh, Myrlie.

MYRLIE: Hi.

She's sound asleep.

Let me have her.

How are you?

Where's Medgar?

Medgar went to Jackson.

But I...

Well, he will be coming?

I guess.

You know, after
his N.A.A.C.P. meeting.

Lee, I have two suitcases.

I'll get 'em.
Y'all go on over
to the car.

Good to see you.

We've missed you.

He's so cute.

[PHONE RINGS]

Yes?

Oh, Medgar, how are you?

Yes.

Yes. Oh, how wonderful.

Uh-huh.

Myrlie, it's for you.

You talk to him, Mom.
I really don't feel like
talking right now.

Oh, now, Myrlie.

Mother, please?

Tell him I'll see him
when he gets here.

Medgar,

I'm sorry,
but she's outside
with the children.

Oh, no. No bother.

The children are fine.

What's that?

You are always welcome
at my house, Medgar,
and you know it.

Yes, I'll tell her.

Bye.

He'll be a little late.

After supper.

Of course.

What's this new job
in Jackson
he's talking about?

The N.A.A.C.P.

They want him to be
field director.

Field director?

He'll be in charge
of all the chapters
in Mississippi.

Well, seems to me
that's quite an honor.

Honor?

[SCOFFS]
He'll get himself killed.

Seems to me if
it's all that dangerous,

you'd would want to
be by his side.

Mother, I love Medgar
very much,

but he really thinks
he can change Mississippi
all by himself.

Can you imagine?

I mean, the nerve.

Yes, honey...

That's nerve all right.

MYRLIE: Medgar called
and said he'd be late.

So mother and Lee
went out to the movies.

[HECKLING]

[LAUGHING]

Hey!

You bad black bitch.

How 'bout it, huh?

Go ahead, Billy,
Cut 'em off!
Cut 'em off!

LEE: Please, sir, we don't
want any trouble.

Please, sir, we don't
want any trouble.

Just let us go home.

What's the matter?Please, sir!

Let us go home.
Let us go home.
Please, sir.

No! Lee! No!

No, get off! No!

Run! Run!

Oh, no, you don't!

[LAUGHING]

Look at this!

Lee!

Lee!

All right, hold it!

You get your filthy hands
off that woman!
Get in the house, Lee!

Get in the house.
Get in the car!

Get outta here!

Move it!

You filthy low-life!

[TIRES SCREECHING]

Rape isn't the worst thing

that can happen
to a negro woman
in Mississippi.

Mother.

We live with it
every day of our lives
down here.

Mostly we just shut our eyes
and grit our teeth.

And we just lay there.

We never tell our men.

We don't say nothin'
to nobody.

[TREMBLING SIGH]

Tonight...

I said my prayers,
and, uh...

All I wanted was that
they didn't hurt Lee.

[SNIFFLES]

That they didn't
kill my husband.

Mother, please.But beyond that...

MYRLIE: Don't upset yourself.

I'll take the boy in, honey.

Good night, Dad.

Good night, baby.

I don't know about Myrlie,

but if you were
my man, Medgar,

I would follow you
to hell and back.

Good night, Son.

Good night, Mama.

[SIGHS]

[CHUCKLES]

[WHISPERS]
Come here. Come here.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

MYRLIE: Setting up
the new headquarters
was a full-time job.

And there were
only the two of us
to do the work.

Those first few days
in Jackson

were the closest thing
to a honeymoon we ever had.

Oh, Mr. Evers?

Yes?

Would you mind
coming over a moment?

This is a busy day,
Mrs. Evers.

Mr. Current is here
from New York.

Yes, yes, I know.
But it would only be
a moment. I promise you.

Yes, what is it, Mrs. Evers?

Well, it's just this.

[MUFFLED CHUCKLING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

GLOSTER: Medgar?Oh, whoa.

Mr. Current.Gloster, please.

Gloster.

Let me introduce
my secretary,
Mrs. Myrlie Evers.

Mrs. Evers.

Nice meeting you,
Mr. Current.

Delighted to me you
and please call me
Gloster.

Uh, Gloster, come in.
Come in, come in.

It's good to see you,
Medgar.

It's good to see you,
too, Gloster.

Well, what do you think
of our setup?

Well, it's...

The rent's really cheap.

No, it's charming.
It serves its purpose.

Uh, well, look.

Now, I bet
you would never
have guessed

that this printing press
was used to make
Confederate money.

Curiously, Medgar,
I would have guessed.

[CHUCKLING]

The important thing is
that this is a start.

So, if you could
just gather your
entire staff around,

I'd like to make
a brief statement.

Yes, of course.
Myrlie?

[ALL LAUGH]

Good luck, kids.

MAN: There's
a new man in town.

We just thought
you might shed some light
as to who he is.

SAMPSON: Medgar Evers.

MAN: Well, who is he,
Mr. Sampson?

Well, sir, he's nobody.
An insurance man
from Mound Bayou.

I called over to city hall.
They'd never heard of him.

[LAUGHING] Well,
like I said, Mr. Bullard,
he's nobody.

Just what do you know
about him, Mr. Sampson?

He graduated Alcorn,
played a little football,
editor at the school paper,

World War II vet,
and is known as a...

As a rabble-rouser.

Is this the same Evers
that applied to the law school
at Ole Miss?

Yes. But they turned him down.

Well,
you can understand that,
can't you, Mr. Sampson?

I mean, Ole Miss?

[LAUGHING]

Yes.

Why are they comin' here,
Mr. Sampson?

Beg pardon?

MAN: The N.A.A.
Why Jackson?

I suppose to rile up
the poor coloreds,

and talk to them about
improving conditions.

It seems to me
the coloreds got
everything they want.

Don't it seem
that way to you,
Mr. Sampson?

SAMPSON: Yes, sir.

It just don't figure.

The N.A.A.
wouldn't open up a
regional headquarters here

unless they were
plannin' somethin'
special.

It doesn't matter
what they have in mind.

They're not
gonna get anywhere
in Hinds County.

Our people. I mean,
the negroes
who really count.

We know what N.A.A.C.P.
stands for.

"Niggers ain't
all colored people."

[ALL LAUGH]

SAMPSON: Take my
word for it gentlemen,

the N.A.A.C.P.
is not gonna get anywhere
in Hinds County.

Thank you, Mr. Sampson.

As usual,
you have been
most enlightening.

Uh, Mr. Sampson...

Why him?Hmm?

There are more
influential negroes
here in Jackson.

Why'd the N.A.A.
hire this Medgar Evers?

Well, that's easy,
Mr. Bullard.

Nobody else
would take the job.

[APPLAUSE]

And, now,
my sisters and brothers,

as the National
Field Director
of N.A.A.C.P.,

I find it a high honor

and a personal pleasure
to present to you

the noble gift
that you of Mississippi
have given to the world.

I speak of a young man
who is strong,

tender, loving,
father and husband...

That part of
his life is easy.

Who could not love
this intelligent, courageous,
and beautiful woman,

and who could not love
their wonderful children?

I speak of a young man
who loves Mississippi

but loves honor more.

A young man
who loves Mississippi

but loves justice more.

A truly dedicated young man
who loves Mississippi,

but is fearlessly determined
to make Mississippi lovable.

ALL: Amen.

I speak, finally,
of a young man

who, as a citizen,
as a person,

as a veteran,

is determined
that the democracy
for which he fought abroad,

must be made manifest here
in his native
state of Mississippi.

ALL: Amen.

GLOSTER: Knock, knock?

ALL: Who's there?

GLOSTER: Medgar!

ALL: Medgar, who?

Medgar Evers,
the American dream
who is knocking, knocking,

at the gates of justice.

[APPLAUSE]

Thank you very much.

I'd like to thank Mr. Current
for such a warm
and generous introduction.

You know...

Before they offered me
the job of field director,

some board members
questioned my qualifications.

This is what I told them.

The Silver Knights
of Mississippi
offered me $50,000

if I'd let them
turn me into
a full-blooded white man,

and I said, "No, thank you."

[ALL LAUGHING]

Then they said

they'd give me $100,000

if I'd go on
out there to Hollywood
and become a movie star.

[ALL LAUGHING]

I said, "Thank you, no."

Well, you know,
they offered me $500,000

if I'd be the first negro
to set foot on the moon.

And I said, "Thank you, no.
I like it here just fine."

[ALL LAUGH]

Where else
in this whole wide world

could you find a happier

or richer bunch of negroes

than right here
in Mississippi, right?

ALL: Right!

Wrong.

I know your white bosses
are trying to scare you.

Trying to keep you from
signing the school petition.

But before
we leave here tonight,

I want every last one of you

to put your name
on the document.

Because if we don't sign,
then they are right.

We are scared.

Now, who will be
the first to sign?

[CROWD MURMURING]

MEDGAR:
Which one of you will be
the first to see your child

go to a desegregated school?

Who will take that small
but most important step

on the road to
freedom and dignity?

Not only for yourself,

but for your children.
Yes, Brother Robinson.

Desegregation.
What does
that word mean?

Desegregate means that,

according to the Constitution
of the United States,

negro children
and white children
are equal.

And they must go
to the same school

if that school
is a public school.

That is the law.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions?

[CROWD MUMBLING]

Now, brothers and sisters,
I must say...

MAN: Mr. Evers?

What good will come
of this petition

after we have signed it?

We'll take it once
we have enough names on it
to the school board.

What if
the school board
won't accept it?

Then we sue.

You mean
colored folks
sue white folks?

All the way
to the Supreme Court.

If necessary.

It is our right,
it is our duty,

and we would be
less than citizens

if we didn't.

Think this'll work?

[AUDIENCE MUMBLING]

WOMAN: Mr. Robinson, please.

MYRLIE: It was
an act of raw courage

for a negro parent to put
his name on that petition.

And everyone knew it.

As much as Medgar
wanted signatures,

he insisted that people knew
what they were signing.

And even after they signed,
Medgar made it clear

that they were under
no obligation

to leave their names
on the petition

if the pressure
became too severe.

The hate groups started
a mud-slinging campaign
to belittle Medgar.

But, still, in spite of
threats from the governor,

state's attorney,
Silver Knights,
and the local media,

the list of names
on Medgar's petition
kept growing.

Thank you, Mr. Edwards.

How many...
How many acres
do you have?

Seventy-five acres
I've got here.

Finest land in Mississippi.

But when it come
to writin' my name,

all I can do is put an "X."

Well, an "X"
will be just fine,
Mr. Edwards.

Very nice place
you got here,
Mr. Edwards.

Very nice.

I know you, boy.

You're one of
ol' Ben Dawson's

sharecroppin' niggers,
ain't ya?

My name is William, sir.

William B. Jefferson, sir.

You know what this is,
Willy B.?

Yes, sir.

You think ol' man Dawson's
gonna like it when
he finds out about it?

No, sir. I don't
reckon he will, sir.

Well, now,
it's not too late.

You can have your name
taken off this list
if you really want to.

[WILLIAM STAMMERS]

What's that, nigger?

I said, no, sir.

Well, now...

What about the rest of you?

You wanna leave your name
on this here thing?

Well...

Well, Mr. Chairman,

we've done our best.

Ain't that right, gentlemen?

I can tell you right now

that this thing
ain't worth the paper
it's written on.

So you can all go.

No. Wait, wait.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Now, that may be
your opinion, sir,

but we would like
an official response from
the entire school board,

and we would
like to have it
as soon as possible.

What's your name, boy?

Medgar Evers.
I represent the
petitioners here.

And we would like to have
an official response
as soon as possible.

Well, you'll get
your response, boy,

in due time.

All of you,
you'll be hearing
from all of us.

You can count on it.

Ain't that right, Mr. Selby?

Oh, absolutely, Mr. Bullard.

As soon as possible.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Excuse me, Mr. Evers,
Professor Carter's here
to see you

about an ad in the paper.

Medgar, have you seen this?

A full-page ad
carrying the names,

the addresses
and telephone numbers

of everybody's name
who's on that petition.

Look at it.
Just look at it.
Look at what it says.

"This ad paid for
by the Silver Knights
of Mississippi."

I want my name off.

Oh, now wait a minute.

Professor Carter,
you mean to tell me

you're gonna let
a little thing like this
scare you off?

I said
I want my name
off that petition.

But you're an important man
in the negro community.

The only reason
a lot of these
people signed

was because they saw
your name on it.
And if you pull out...

I just received a call
from the superintendent
of schools.

Told me right out.
Take your name off or
find yourself another job.

I want my name
off the petition
and I want it off now.

[SIGHS]

Take a look at this,
an insurance policy...

MYRLIE: The salesman
lost the use of his car

when his insurance
was suddenly canceled.

His wife,
a school vice principal,
was fired from her job.

A plumber, whose name
was also on the list,

suddenly found the union
stopped calling him for work.

A carpenter was beaten up,
and his tools
taken away from him.

And there were others,
dozens and dozens of others.

And they all
had no place to turn.

The other night,
in front of my wife
and children,

I just broke down.

Me, a grown man.

Lord, I couldn't
do nothing but cry.

That little house
is all we got
in this world, Mr. Evers.

And now, they're
fixin' to take it.

Mr. Amos, you already
took your name off
the petition.

How much money, Mr. Amos?

Five hundred dollars.

Where on earth
can I get $500 in just
three days' time?

Look, it's getting late,
Mr. Amos,

but I am going to
figure something out.

But in the meantime,
I want you to go on home
to your wife and kids

and tell them
it's gonna be all right.

What's that you said,
Mr. Evers?

Well, I'm gonna help you
get the money somehow.

But now I just want you
to go on home
to your wife and kids.

And I'll take care
of everything.

You wouldn't fool me,
would ya, sir?

You wouldn't
say that just to...

No, no, I wouldn't.

I just want you
to go on home.
It's gonna be all right.

Good night.
Now, take care.

Good night.All right. Good night.

Good night, Mr. Amos.

Medgar, honey,
I know how you feel,
but where are you...

He is right!

Myrlie, it's only money.

What are you doing?

Calling Gloster Current
in New York.

What?

People are losing their jobs.

Mortgages are foreclosing.

Businessmen going broke.

The Silver Knights
are not the only ones
who can play this game.

How are you, Mr. Edwards?

Fine, thank you.
How are you?

Okay. We just need to know
exactly how much it is

that you owe the bank.

The whole thing
come to $3,200,
but I can't pay.

No, just...

We'll write a check.

How's that again?

Excuse me, Mr. Edwards.

This is Mr. Benson from
Deep South Life Insurance.

How do you do?

MEDGAR: And this is
Mr. Gloster Current
from our New York offices.

Mr. Edwards.

Well, sir, some friends
in the N.A.A.C.P.

have just deposited
$300,000 in a bank
in Memphis.

A negro bank, for just
such an emergency as this.

My Lord!

My great God Almighty!

Imagine! Colored folks
helpin' colored folks!

You're not alone
here in Mississippi,
Mr. Edwards.

Help is pouring in
from all over the country.

We're not gonna let
anyone take our land
away from us.

Thank you.You're welcome, sir.

And thank you.And thank you, sir.

[CAR HONKING]

Medgar!

Medgar, George Lee!

Medgar, he's been killed!

What?

They shot him down.

Oh, no. I...

I've got to get over there.

Medgar!

Look, Benson will see
that you get home.

I'll go with you.Yeah. Okay...

I'll call you
as soon as I can.

Be careful!

MYRLIE: The
Reverend George Lee

was president
of the Balzone chapter
of the N.A.A.C.P.

More important to Medgar,
he was a friend.

But all I could think about

was that he was
the third N.A.A.C.P. leader
killed that year.

Reverend George Lee
gave his life
to help his people.

Yet look around
at how empty
this place is.

I'm asking you,
Brother Evers, since they
killed Reverend Lee,

what in the world
are we gonna do?

We're gonna stand up
on our feet

and stop feelin' sorry
for ourselves. That's one.

Two, we're gonna
get back out there

with our school board petition
and voter registration
just like George Lee did.

And, three,
we're gonna find
the men who killed him.

We already done that.

Everybody in town
knows the two white men
who did it.

Tom Penny even saw it.

Went down to
the sheriff's office

and told the sheriff
exactly who it was.

And we ain't seen
Tom Penny since.

Now how we gonna go out
and talk about anything

when all our people
are too scared
to leave their houses?

Now you tell me,
brother Evers,

just how we gonna do that?

Maybe you can't give people
hope and encouragement.

Make them believe that
things can get better.

You're doing
the best you can, Medgar.

Maybe Sampson is right.

Maybe Medgar Evers
is just a fool.

To hell with Sampson!

You're your own man.

Maybe I'm expecting
too much, honey.

Maybe Mississippi
will always
just be unjust.

Now, look here, Medgar,
you have been beating
yourself on the head

for almost an hour now.

You've got to stop it.

You've got to realize
that what you're doing
is right

and that I support you
all the way.

[PHONE RINGS]

No.

Hello?

MAN: Hello, nigger.
It's your nightly phone call.

Just a reminder that
somewhere some day soon

we gonna kill you, boy.

[DIAL TONE]

It'll get better, Medgar.

It has to.

[CAR DRIVING PAST]

Lay down. Lay down, Myrlie.

[COCKS GUN]

[MYRLIE GASPS]

[MEDGAR SHUSHES]

It's all right.

It's all right.

Oh...

Oh, that's good.

I'm afraid they're
gonna try to hurt
one of the kids.

I don't want...

I don't want Darrell
playing in that empty lot
across the street anymore.

It's not us.
It's you they're after.

And the kids are not
to go to or from school
by themselves.

I just don't know.

I don't know if
I can make it
without you, Medgar.

MAN: This'll teach you
to molest white women!

But I didn't do it!

MAN 1: So long, negro.

[GROANS]
I swear I didn't do it!
Please, no!

I didn't do it!

No, please, no!

Don't kill me! Please!

[GRUNTS]

[GUNSHOT]

[DUCKS QUACKING]

MYRLIE: Emmett Till was
a 14-year-old negro boy
from Chicago,

who had come to the delta
to visit his uncle.

He was murdered,
they claimed,

because he had whistled
at a white woman.

What made
the Emmett Till case special

was that the New York press
was in Jackson,
doing a story on Medgar.

And, so, for the first time,

Mississippi justice
was exposed
to the whole country.

[WOMAN CHATTERING OVER RADIO]

Sheriff Charlie,
would you care to comment
on this...

Why should I?

All you damn Yankees do
is take everything we say

and twist it
to suit yourselves.

Mr. Evers,
do you have anything
you'd like to say?

Well...

I think the nation
might just like to know
that we have a witness,

a negro man,

who swears he actually saw
Emmett Till being beaten
and shot to death.

MAN: Let's get outta here.

Now, you saw them
kill the boy?

I... I did.

With my own two eyes
right there in that barn.

And you went and
told the sheriff
what you saw?

Yes, sir.

And you're willing
to testify
against these people

in an open court?

You mean,
if he's still amongst
the living?

There's some white folks
out there been parked,
been following us all day.

Ed, you and the deacon
go out there
and talk to them.

Talk to them?
Talk to them
about what?

Anything.
Just keep them
occupied.

Please.

Mr. Henry, you and I
are going to
slip around the back.

Come on.

Where are you taking me?

To Memphis.

Why Memphis?

Because it's far enough away

and I got some friends there
with a house

where we can hide you
till it's time for the trial.

MYRLIE: For three months
Medgar kept his star witness
in hiding.

We were convinced
his testimony would
convict the two men

accused of killing
Emmett Till.

Where is Evers?
Why isn't he here?

He's over at the courthouse.
But I'm sure...

Oh, here he comes now.

I'm sorry,
ladies and gentlemen.

Essie, I left Jimbo
over at the courthouse.

When he comes,
send him right on through.

Okay.Good. Thank you.

Well...

The jury is out,
and we're expecting
a verdict any minute.

Can we get
down to business?

You think they'll
convict them?

The whole world
is watching that jury.

They've got to convict.

I have no further time
to waste on this kind
of foolishness.

I'm only here because
the governor of this state
asked me to come.

Go ahead, Sampson.

SAMPSON: I'll get
right to the point.

Your membership is down,

the chapters are dying,

your voter registration
is a joke.

Three of your top leaders
were shot dead
in less than a year.

Now, who around this table
can look me in the eye

and tell me the N.A.A.C.P.
is not in serious trouble?

Hmm?

[CHUCKLES]

Well, the governor's
asked me to come here
to offer you all a deal.

Yes. Yes, we know
all about his deal.

The answer is no.

Hold it, Medgar.

Yes, Mr. Sampson?

The governor has pledged
to spend $5 million

on colored schools
in the state of Mississippi,

and make them equal
with white schools.

The answer is still no.

GLOSTER: Medgar, please.

And in return, Mr. Sampson?

Well, in return, of course,

the N.A.A.C.P.
will withdraw its petitions

and abandon all attempts
to integrate public schools
in the state of Mississippi.

[LAUGHS]

I'm afraid that
that's against the law,
Mr. Sampson.

The law does not say
separate, but equal.

It says "integrate."

Medgar, let me
spell it out for him.

The answer is N-O.

You're makin' a mistake,
gentlemen.

You're makin' a big mistake.

[CHUCKLING]

Well? What happened?

Just like Mr. Henry said,
"Ain't no way in hell
they'd convict a white man

"for killin' one of us."

MYRLIE: The students
wanted so desperately

to demonstrate
their frustration,

their sense of helplessness,

that Jimbo, Essie,
and two of their friends,

determined but frightened,
walked into a white library.

Imagine?

Negroes in a white library
for the first time
in Jackson's history.

They took books
and sat down.

And from that day on,
it would never be the same.

[SOBBING]

Nancy, you better stop cryin'.
Professor Carter
ain't gonna like it

if your paper's
got tears on it.

How you guys doin'?

All right. Just be cool.
This is a nonviolent sit-in.

Everything will be okay.

Get up.
Put your papers away.

But those cops
could've killed
all of you!

And, Jimbo, what the hell
were you trying to prove?

How tough you are?

Students are on the move
all across the South.

Sit-ins and demonstrations,

marches, protests.

Good! That's fine,

but not here in Mississippi!

Why not?

Because you don't
make a move
until I tell you to!

I'm responsible here!

And none of you
will go off half-cocked

without strategies
or plans laid out!

Tell us what
you want us to do.

Your parents should be
on the front line.
You're all kids!

This really isn't
your kind of fight!

The hell it isn't!

All right. All right.
But no more sit-ins
without a plan

or without my approval!

Okay, then. What now?

We follow the N.A.A.C.P.
guidelines

and give the
legal process a try!

No!

What?

That legal process
you're talking about,

that...
That's their law.

It protects them, not us.

[DOOR OPENS]

Man, you N.A.A.C.P. negroes

sure have put
Jackson, Mississippi
on the map!

Did you see the television?
I've never seen white folks
that shook up before!

BOY: Everybody at school's
talking about it.

Mr. Evers, we just came
from a rally on campus.

The whole school
is behind you.

They appointed us
to be its delegation.

It's about time
the N.A.A.
got off its fanny.

And what the students
want to know now

is where do we
hit whitey next?

But honey, you know
what they wanted me to do?

Call the schools and ask them
to excuse all the students
tomorrow

so they could all come down...

No. All march down
to the hearing tomorrow.

What?

A thousand negro students
marching through downtown
Jackson, Mississippi,

all trying to get into
the same courthouse
at once.

[LAUGHING]

Can you imagine?

That would certainly shake up
the city fathers, now,
wouldn't it?

Here. Put these on ice.

I just can't figure it.

What the hell's gotten
into those children?

They're just following
your instructions.

My instructions?

Weren't you the one
who told their parents

stand up, defend your rights,
fight for your freedom?

Now that their children
are doing just that...

Wait just a minute, Myrlie,

you know those cops
as well as I do.

Those children will get hurt.

You criticize them
for taking action,

you criticize their parents
for not taking action.

Make up your mind, Medgar.

BOY: I'm ready, Daddy!

Yeah.
You look like
you're ready to me!

Let's go see
what we can get.
Okay?

I'll race ya!

Will the defendants
approach the bench,
please?

[DEMONSTRATORS YELLING
IN DISTANCE]

I'm sentencing you all
to 90 days' probation.

And I'm fining
each of you
100 dollars.

Your honor, since it
has not been established

that these students
initiated the riot,

then I assume
that you are fining them

for sitting in
a public library,
is that correct?

Mr. Evers!

Tell us, your honor,
is that right?

Are you forgetting
that you're a guest here?

Now, I cleared this courtroom
and allowed you to stay.

But one more word
out of you, boy,

and I'm gonna hold you
in contempt of court.

[BANGS HAMMER]

[DEMONSTRATORS YELLING]

[SIRENS WAILING]

DEMONSTRATORS: Free them!

[WHISTLES BLOWING]

Free them! Free them!

There they go! There they go!

[DEMONSTRATORS CHEER]

There he is!

Get back there.

Medgar.

MAN: Come on, everybody back!

Medgar!

MAN: Move it! Move it!

Move those trucks on in.

REPORTER:
Talk into the microphone.

Anybody sick? Anybody hurt?

Did they beat you?

[BARKING]

REPORTER: Sheriff, statement?

What are you gonna
do with the kids?

[BLOWS WHISTLE]

POLICEMAN: All right!
A couple at a time!
Women to the left!

Men to your right!

[ALL CHATTERING]

POLICEMAN: Men to your right!

[WOMEN CRYING]

POLICEMAN: Men to your right!

♪ CONGREGATION:
We shall overcome

MYRLIE:
Medgar asked the parents
to wait at the Masonic temple.

They sang songs of faith,
of the movement, and of hope,

so that our hearts would not
be filled with hatred.

We knew that Medgar
would soon be coming
face-to-face with the sheriff.

And as we sang,
we all silently
prayed for him.

♪ Overcome some day

♪ We shall overcome

♪ We shall overcome

♪ We shall overcome

♪ Some day

♪ Oh, deep in my heart

♪ I do believe

♪ That we shall overcome

♪ Some day

♪ We shall overcome

♪ We shall overcome

♪ We shall overcome

♪ Some day

♪ Oh, deep in my heart ♪

[SINGING STOPS]

♪ Ain't gonna let nobody

♪ Turn me around

♪ Turn me around
Turn me around

♪ Turn me around
Turn me around

♪ Ain't gonna let nobody

♪ Turn me around

♪ Gonna keep on a-walkin'

♪ Keep on a-talkin'

♪ Walking up to freedom land

♪ Ain't gonna let nobody ♪

I've arranged
for a fleet of taxis

to come and pick
these young folks up.

Yeah, well, hold it.

You're gonna have to
give me your word
before I let them loose.

My word for what?

Your word they
ain't gonna do it again.

Look, I just gave you
an order signed by judge...

I don't give a damn
who it's signed by.

The mayor wants your word,
your guarantee,

no more marches,
no more demonstrations,

and no more
of that sit-in stuff.

Well?

Open up those pigpens!

Your word or they'll
stay right there!

Well, don't get
your dander up.

I'm surprised with you,
Medgar.

From what I hear tell,
you're more of a legality boy.

Settle things in the courts,
not in the streets.

Decent, nonviolent...

Law-abidin' negro.

Now, if you just
give me your word,
as a gentleman,

that you'll take care
of these kids from here on in

and keep 'em off the streets
and get 'em back into school,

the mayor's authorized me
to let 'em loose

and drop all the charges.

No. No deals, sheriff.

Well, you had your chance,
nigger.

Yes, and you've had yours
because I just left about
3,000 mean and angry negroes,

and they're expecting me
to come back
with their children.

And not a single one of them
is nonviolent.

Are you threatenin' me?

No, I'm not threatening you,
I am telling you!

Either you honor that order
or they'll come down here
and tear this place apart!

Well, let 'em come.

I got men, and I got guns,

and I got dogs.

Oh, yes,
I've seen them all
on network television.

See, we've also notified
the Department of Justice,

the attorney general,
and the White House.

And they're pretty upset
about kids being held
in stockades

like a bunch of
animals, Sheriff.

I sure hope you know
what the hell you're doin'.

Wait!

Wally, get me the mayor.

♪ We shall overcome

♪ We shall overcome

♪ We shall overcome

♪ Some day

♪ Oh, deep in my heart

♪ Turn me around

♪ Turn me around ♪

[ALL CLAPPING]

[SINGING CONTINUES]

♪ Turn me around

♪ Turn me around

♪ Turn me around

♪ Ain't gonna let nobody

♪ Turn me around

♪ Gonna keep on a-walkin'

♪ Keep on a-talkin'

♪ Walking up to freedom land

♪ Ain't gonna let nobody

♪ Turn me around

♪ Turn me around

♪ Turn me around

♪ Ain't gonna let nobody

♪ Turn me around

♪ Gonna keep on a-walkin'

♪ Keep on a-talkin'

♪ Walking up
to freedom land ♪

MEDGAR: Brothers...
Brothers and sisters.
Friends.

If we really want to
change Mississippi,

and that's one thing
I intend to do,
or die tryin'.

ALL: All right!

[ALL CHEERING]

MEDGAR: We cannot wait around

for the courts
and due process
to do their job.

If we really want
our constitutional rights,

our freedom,

and our dignity,

then we are going to
have to go out
into the streets

just like these students did
and take them.

[ALL CHEER]

And so, as a protest

against the way the sheriff,
the mayor...

ALL: Yeah. Right.

The police,
the entire bigoted,

racist administration
of this city

has treated our kids,

I'm calling for a boycott.

[CHEERING]

Starting tomorrow,

we are taking the battle
for our civil rights

into the streets,

and we are going
to stay in the streets

until we bring the house
of Jim Crow to its knees!

[CHEERING]

MYRLIE: We decided to start
by boycotting
just one department store.

We chose Maynard's
because negroes spent
as much money there as whites,

yet they hired
no negro sales people,

nor could we try on clothing,
use the restrooms,

and we certainly
were not
treated with courtesy.

JIMBO: Pass 'em by,
brothers and sisters.

Don't spend your money
with people who
treat negroes like dirt!

[SIREN BLARING]

JIMBO: Pass 'em by,
brothers and sisters.

Don't spend your money
with people who
treat negroes like dirt!

Twelve...

[SIRENS APPROACHING]

OFFICER: Let's round 'em up
and get 'em out of here.

Be careful, honey, please.Okay.

[BLOWING WHISTLE]

Okay, boy. This way.

MYRLIE: Medgar prepared
for the boycott
like a military strategist,

with every minute
detail planned

and every potential threat
prepared for.

Sit down!

[SIREN BLARING]

MYRLIE: As soon as the police
would arrest one group
and take them away,

Medgar or I, or somebody,
would drive up with another.

The newspapers
called the demonstrators

outside agitators
and Communists.

Well, I can tell you
every man and woman
who manned our picket lines

was a friend, neighbor,
or student,
from the local college.

The only people
picketing the City of Jackson
were the citizens of Jackson.

[SIRENS WAILING]

[PEOPLE CLAMORING]

TV ANNOUNCER: Meanwhile,
in Jackson, Mississippi,

Medgar Evers'
civil rights boycott
heads into its third week.

Every day the appearance
of thousands of negro people

has choked off and paralyzed
downtown Jackson.

Department stores report sales
at an all-time low,

and some shop owners
have closed down completely.

Yesterday, the highway patrol
joined local police
on the scene,

giving Jackson the appearance
of an occupied city.

Some store owners claim

they are willing to
open their door
to negro customers

but fear reprisal
from the Silver Knights,

who've threatened
to set up a white boycott

against any store
making concessions
to the negroes.

So the tension escalates,
and the pressure builds,

and there is a sense
of impending crisis

in this once-peaceful
Southern city.

And the man
in the eye of the hurricane,
Medgar Evers.

The courts are not enough!

Litigation is slow
and expensive.

And the people
are tired of waiting, right?

CROWD: That's right!
That's right.

MEDGAR: But the boycott
is a success!

And we intend to keep it up
until every merchant
on this block

goes broke, if necessary.

CROWD: All right!

They can jail us!
Beat us up!

It will not stop us!

CROWD: Right!

We will march,
we will boycott,

and picket,
until all of the demands

that are legally ours...

MAN:
I want him scared tonight.

And if scarin' don't do it,
I want him dead.

MYRLIE: That night,
Medgar was working late.

I was home alone
with the children when...

[GLASS SHATTERS]

[EXCLAIMS]

[GASPS]

CROWD: [CHANTING]
Medgar! Medgar!

You know, last night
they tried to kill us.

They figured, I suppose,

"Run Medgar Evers
out of Mississippi,
the boycott dies."

CROWD: No!

MEDGAR: "Run Medgar Evers
out of Mississippi,

"and all the little darkies
will come crawlin' back
to the plantations."

CROWD: No!

Well, brothers and sisters,
we have got news for them!

[CROWD CHEERING]

They cannot run us out.
They cannot burn us out.

They cannot scare us out.

Sorry, Silver Knights,
Medgar Evers and his family,

for one,
are not goin' anywhere!

[ALL CHEERING]

MEDGAR: Now,
if it's marches they want,

we'll give 'em marches.

If it's picket lines
they want,
we'll give 'em picket lines!

And if it's demonstrations
they want,

well, we are gonna
put on demonstrations,

the likes of which
this town has never
seen before!

Mr. Bullard.

Wait! Wait!
That's my camera!

This is your camera, huh?

Come on!

...farmers and sharecroppers,
jammin' the streets!

Blocking the sidewalk.
Anything it takes
to get the job done!

Now, I want the police
to know it.

The sheriff to know it!

The governor, the mayor...

Every segregationist
in this state to know

that the negro people
of Mississippi

are comin' back
to the streets,
not by the hundreds,

but by the thousands!

[CROWD CHEERING]

And we intend
to stay in the streets

until there is equality
for every man,

woman, and child
in the state of Mississippi!

CROWD: [CHANTING]
Medgar! Medgar!

[MAN LAUGHING]

Alive and fully
functioning, huh?

Daddy! Daddy!

Oh, well.

Man, oh, man, Medgar,

that was some kind
of speech.

Oh, Ed, thank you.
Dottie.

Best I ever heard.

I can't wait to see
their faces tomorrow.

Daddy.

Can I go in the picket line
with you tomorrow?

Oh, now, Van,
wait a minute...

Me, too, daddy!
Me, too.

Dad, is it okay
if we go home now?
I'm sleepy.

[LAUGHING]

Would you fellas
mind excusing us
for just a moment, please?

Thank you.

Myrlie,
we'll wait outside
for you and the kids.

Okay.
All right, then.

Daddy?Huh?

I love you!

Oh, baby,
I love you, too!

Daddy!
Pick me up!
Please?

Van, can't you see
how tired your father is?

No, no, no. That's okay.
I got an airplane here.

Now, I want all of you
to listen.

And I mean listen.

Now, Darrell?Yes, Daddy?

Now, no matter what happens,
when I'm away,

you remember
that you are the man
in this family.

What's gonna happen,
Daddy?

Nothin's gonna happen, Van,

I want all of you to,
no matter what,
do something for me.

Do you understand?

Do what, Daddy?

Yeah, what?

Well, I want you to...

I guess what I really want is

to give you all a giant hug!

[LAUGHS] Ah!

Thank you, Van.

Oh, Reena, sweetheart.

Now, Darrell,
I know you're
a great, big ol' man...

But, come here.

[LAUGHS]

Now, that wasn't
so bad now, was it?

No.

Daddy!
You didn't kiss Mommy.

MEDGAR: Oh...

We can't have that,
now can we?

No.

Well, come on.
Let's go over there.

Brother Evers,
excuse me for bustin' in,

but I think
Myrlie and the children
ought to leave now.

Why? What's wrong?

There's an angry crowd
of whites out there,

and I just think
they oughta leave.

Well, of course.

Will you escort
Myrlie and the kids
to the car?

Sure. Come on, children.

Okay. Why don't you
go ahead, kids.

Myrlie.

I love you.

I love you, Medgar.

Remember, honey,
be strong.

You hurry home now.
Okay?

Okay?

Okay.

[CROWD CLAMORING]

MAN: You know that,
don't you?

[GUN COCKS]

You call us
if you need anything.

MYRLIE: Thanks, Dottie.

Mr. Evers, do you know
that the Silver Knights

have got this building
surrounded?

Well, the Silver Knights,
White Citizens Council,

Ku Klux Klan...
The haters are always there.

Is there any truth
to the rumor
that the N.A.A.,

fearing for your life,
has asked you
to leave Mississippi?

Yes.

Are you going to?

No.

Now the time has come
for this nation
to fulfill its promise.

The events in Birmingham
and elsewhere

have so increased
the cries for equality

that no city or state
or legislative body

can fruitfully choose
to ignore them.

The fires of frustration
and discord are burning
in every city,

north and south.

Where legal remedies
are not at hand,

redress is sought
in the streets.

But legislation, I repeat,

cannot solve
this problem alone.

It must be
solved in the homes
of every American,

in every community
across our country.

In this respect,
I want to pay tribute

to those citizens
north and south

who've been working
in their communities
to make life better for all.

They're acting not out of
sense of legal duty

but out of the sense
of human decency.

They are meeting
freedom's challenge
on the firing lines...

Oh, Daddy's home.

...for their honor
and their courage.

[GUN COCKS]

[GUNSHOT]

[SCREAMING]

No! Medgar!

Medgar!

No! No!

No!

No!

No!

Medgar.

Medgar.

We'll be right over.

Medgar's been shot.

Daddy!Come on, honey.

[SCREAMING]

Daddy!

Please try to get away.

VAN: Daddy!

Come on, come on.

[CHILD SCREAMS]

REENA: Daddy!

Easy! Easy! Easy!

WOMAN: Oh, Jesus.
Back away from him.

He's gonna be all right.

REENA: Daddy!

WOMAN:
He's gonna be all right.
Oh, Jesus!

Get back. Get back.

Get back.

MAN: Come on!
Come on! Myrlie!

Watch out!

Push! Come on, push.

Let me go!

Take her inside!

For God sake, Ed,
why can't she go?

Dottie, it's
a white hospital!

We'll be lucky
if they take Medgar!

Get back!
Get back from the car!

You can't go!

It's a white hospital.

[SOBBING]

♪ Precious Lord

♪ Take my hand

♪ Lead me home

♪ Let me stand

♪ I am tired

♪ I am weak

♪ I am worn

♪ Through the storm

♪ Through the night

♪ Lead me home

♪ To the light

♪ Take my hand

♪ Precious Lord

♪ And lead

♪ Me home ♪

I come here today

with a broken heart.

I have lost my husband.

And my children are left
without a father.

But I also come

with an inner strength
and determination

to carry forth his struggle.

No one really knew

how hard Medgar Evers worked.

And how he gave of his life
24 hours a day.

It was his wish,

his dream,

that this movement
be one of the most successful

this nation,
this entire world
has ever known.

And so I'm here
to make my plea

to all of you here
and everywhere

that you shall be able
to draw some of his strength

just some of his courage
to finish this fight.

I ask now for united action
in this effort.

Nothing can
bring Medgar back.

But we cannot let his death
be in vain.

We must not,

and our cause must live on.

MYRLIE: Yes,
somewhere in Mississippi

lives the man
who murdered my husband.

I wonder what he thinks
of Jackson,

with its now-integrated
department stores,

libraries, and public schools.

Yes, progress has been made.

But, in Mississippi,
traditions die hard,

and many set in their ways
will hang on to the last
thread.

It's better, Medgar.
It really is better.

But please know,
my dearest,
the struggle goes on.