Viola Liuzzo was born in Pennsylvania in 1925 and watched the Civil Rights Movement on television before feeling the need to be a part of it.The 39-year-old white woman was a mother of five who became active in the Detroit chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP). On March 8, 1964, she decided to go to Selma. She joined marchers on Bloody Sunday and continued to work for the cause in the days after.She was using her car to help people shuttle to the airport and decided to take civil rights worker Leroy Moton back to Montgomery. >> Lift every voice and sing with our full special about the unsung heroes of Black history.On the way back, a group of KKK members followed them for more than twenty miles. About halfway between Selma and Montgomery, a group of four men pulled up along the car and shot her, killing her instantly. Moton escaped by faking his own death.Martin Luther King Jr. went to her funeral. The family had to be protected for years after, as the family and children received threats and a cross was burned on their lawn.Three Klansmen were indicted for the murder of Liuzzo: Eugene Thomas, William Orville Eaton, and Collie LeRoy Wilkins Jr. The fourth person, Gary Thomas Rowe, was in the car with the men had been an FBI informant and made a strong case against them in court.The suspects' attorney defended his clients by attacking Liuzzo's character and the case ended up in a hung jury. When it was retried, the all-white jury deliberated for only a few hours before they were found not guilty.A federal jury brought charges against the men for conspiring to violate Liuzzo's civil rights. They found them guilty and an Alabama federal district judge handed down the maximum prison sentence of ten years per person.Throughout Black History Month, 米兰体育 13 is also recognizing and honoring the legacy of Alabamians who broke barriers outside of the music industry.Can't see the interactive infographic above? Click here.
SELMA, Ala. — Viola Liuzzo was born in Pennsylvania in 1925 and watched the Civil Rights Movement on television before feeling the need to be a part of it.
The 39-year-old white woman was a mother of five who became active in the Detroit chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP).
On March 8, 1964, she decided to go to Selma. She joined marchers on Bloody Sunday and continued to work for the cause in the days after.
She was using her car to help people shuttle to the airport and decided to take civil rights worker Leroy Moton back to Montgomery.
>> Lift every voice and sing with our full special about the unsung heroes of Black history.
On the way back, a group of KKK members followed them for more than twenty miles. About halfway between Selma and Montgomery, a group of four men pulled up along the car and shot her, killing her instantly. Moton escaped by faking his own death.
Martin Luther King Jr. went to her funeral. The family had to be protected for years after, as the family and children received threats and a cross was burned on their lawn.
Bettmann
At the funeral of Viola Liuzzo, her family, Mr. Anthony Liuzzo, Tommy, 13, Penny, 18 (front left to right, ) Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, son-in-law and daughter of the slain woman, and Anthony, Jr. (left to right, back) follows the casket from the church. Mrs. Li
Three Klansmen were indicted for the murder of Liuzzo: Eugene Thomas, William Orville Eaton, and Collie LeRoy Wilkins Jr. The fourth person, Gary Thomas Rowe, was in the car with the men had been an FBI informant and made a strong case against them in court.
The suspects' attorney defended his clients by attacking Liuzzo's character and the case ended up in a hung jury. When it was retried, the all-white jury deliberated for only a few hours before they were found not guilty.
A federal jury brought charges against the men for conspiring to violate Liuzzo's civil rights. They found them guilty and an Alabama federal district judge handed down the maximum prison sentence of ten years per person.
Jeff Greenberg
Alabama, Viola Liuzzo Memorial Civil Rights activist killed by KKK. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Throughout Black History Month, 米兰体育 13 is also recognizing and honoring the legacy of Alabamians who broke barriers outside of the music industry.
Can't see the interactive infographic above? Click here.
