Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11) signed on in support of H. R. 923, the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.    The bill establishes an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

“For many Americans, particularly Black Americans, the injustices that occurred during the Civil Right era continue to impact the realities of today,” stated Rep. Clarke.  “H.R. 923 is just one of the many steps needed to bring closure and wholeness to the injustices that occurred based on the color of one’s skin.  It is my prayer that as we continue as a nation that these kinds of atrocities will be part of our past and not our future.”

H.R. 923 was introduced on February 8, 2007 by Rep. John Lewis and makes the Chief of the Section and the Chief Investigator responsible for investigating violations of criminal civil rights statues in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970, and resulted in death.  Under these new investigations, the Chiefs must consult with the state or local officials to determine if a violation of the criminal civil rights statues has occurred.            

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