Civil rights activist Alvin Sykes talked about efforts to investigate unsolved civil rights crimes. He talked about his life’s journey from birth in a home for unwed mothers, dropping out of high school to educate himself in libraries, to being a crusader against the murder of Emmett Till. As president of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign, he was instrumental in the introduction of legislation to set up a permanent cold case unit in the Justice Department to probe civil rights era homicides. His efforts helped to establish the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which was signed into law by President Bush in 2008. Mr. Sykes also talked about his continuing work and current cases under investigation. Mr. Sykes responded to questions from members of the audience.


“Alvin Sykes: The Pursuit of Justice for Emmett Till” was a 6:30 p.m. CT program at the Central Library of the Kansas City Public Library.