News Release

Emmett Till Interpretive Center Named Official Partner of the Newly Created Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

Date: April 17, 2024
Contact: Courtney Farrell (ETIC)
Contact: Saudia Muwwakkil (NPS)

MISSISSIPPI – The National Park Service (NPS) today announced it has entered into a partnership, designating the Emmett Till Interpretive Center (ETIC) as an official philanthropic and educational partner of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. Established by President Joe Biden in 2023, the monument includes sites dedicated to the legacies of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, including the Tallahatchie County Courthouse and Graball Landing in Mississippi, and Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Illinois.

“We are honored to partner with the National Park Service. As official interpreters for the National Monument, we are committed to the complete and accurate telling of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley’s history, and to ensuring the public understands that the racism and anti-Black violence that caused Emmett Till’s death still exists today. The creation of this National Monument was made possible by decades of local activism and ETIC will continue to center local voices and community organizations in this next phase of an ongoing effort to bring attention, resources and visitors to these major historical sites here in Mississippi,” said Patrick Weems, Executive Director of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center.

“For nearly two decades, ETIC has collaborated with countless organizations to preserve the legacies of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, while facilitating racial healing, reconciliation, and community uplift across the Mississippi Delta and beyond,” said William Cheek, Acting Superintendent, Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. “Together, we will work to engage diverse communities, produce powerful storytelling and inspire future generations of stewards dedicated to making a positive difference for a greater purpose.”As an official partner, ETIC will provide tours and educational programming, and lead philanthropic efforts in support of the park’s Mississippi units.  

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About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.  

The Emmett Till Interpretive Center was formed to confront the brutal truth of the 1955 murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in the Mississippi Delta and to seek justice for the Till family and Mississippi Delta community. The Center aims to tell the story of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, as an act of restorative justice to create the conditions necessary to begin the process of racial healing in Mississippi and across the nation. For more information about the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, visit https://www.emmett-till.org or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/tillcenter), Twitter, @etic_tillcenter, Instagram @emmetttillinterpretivecenter, and TikTok @etic_tillcenter.