July 2, 1925 - June 12, 1963
Medgar Evers was a Civil Rights activist. He was born July 2, 1925, in Decatur, Mississippi. Evers was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. He fought in both France and Germany during World War II. Evers married Myrlie Beasley. They later had three children: Darrell, Reena and James. Evers led demonstrations and economic boycotts of white-owned companies that practiced discrimination. Evers became a big target for those who opposed racial equality and desegregation. He and his family got numerous threats and violent actions over many years including a firebombing of their house in May 1963. Also at 12:40 a.m. on June 12, 1963, Evers was shot in the back. He was shot in the driveway of his home in Jackson. He died less than A hour later at a nearby hospital. Evers was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. In February 1994, a jury in Jackson found Beckwith guilty of murder. The unapologetic white supremacist, aged 73, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Medgar Evers was a Civil Rights activist. He was born July 2, 1925, in Decatur, Mississippi. Evers was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. He fought in both France and Germany during World War II. Evers married Myrlie Beasley. They later had three children: Darrell, Reena and James. Evers led demonstrations and economic boycotts of white-owned companies that practiced discrimination. Evers became a big target for those who opposed racial equality and desegregation. He and his family got numerous threats and violent actions over many years including a firebombing of their house in May 1963. Also at 12:40 a.m. on June 12, 1963, Evers was shot in the back. He was shot in the driveway of his home in Jackson. He died less than A hour later at a nearby hospital. Evers was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. In February 1994, a jury in Jackson found Beckwith guilty of murder. The unapologetic white supremacist, aged 73, was sentenced to life imprisonment.