Civil Rights and Restorative Justice-Reese Event

On October 23, 1955, two white men murdered 16-year-old John Earl Reese and shot 13-year-old Joyce Faye Crockett Nelson and 15-year-old Johnnie Nelson in Texas. The violence that claimed Reese’s life was motivated by anger over the improvement of a local black high school. The shooters were never held accountable for Reeses murder. Fifty-five years later, justice was restored. On October 23, 2010, the Mayflower community, in partnership with Prof. Margaret Burnham and CRRJ, held a memorial event for John Earl Reese. In February 2011, the key players in restoring justice came to the law school to discuss the case.

Ronald Dugger, the investigative journalist who covered the case in 1955.

Professor Margaret Burnham discusses the case.

Kaylie Simon 11, one of the CRRJ students who investigated the case.

Danielle Ponder ’11

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Ronald Dugger, the investigative journalist who covered the case in 1955.

Professor Margaret Burnham discusses the case.

Kaylie Simon 11, one of the CRRJ students who investigated the case.

Danielle Ponder ’11

2/4