Legislation to reauthorize legislation encouraging the Justice Department to investigate civil rights era cold cases led by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) was signed into law on Friday by President Obama.
The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act, S. 2854, was developed through Burr’s work with civil rights activist Alvin Sykes in order to help bring justice to victims of unsolved civil rights crimes.
Before the passage of major civil rights legislation in the 1960s, hundreds of racially suspicious crimes were committed and few were ever prosecuted.
“Now that this bill is law, investigators can now work to discover the truth and to seek justice under our legal system for the families of these victims. Every American is worthy of the protection of our laws,” Burr said.
The legislation, which was approved by the Senate earlier this month, requires the Justice Department and FBI to consult civil rights organizations, universities and other organizations that have been collecting evidence on civil rights cold cases.
Additionally, the measure improves communication between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and strengthens reporting requirements for the Justice Department.
“The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act sets out to investigate racially motivated murders,” said U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), a supporter of the bill. “Sadly, there is still more work to be done and it’s important that we reauthorize this bill so that the FBI and DOJ can continue investigating unsolved crimes.”
The measure eliminates a sunset provision built into the original bill and allows all cases that occurred before Dec. 31, 1979, to be considered under the bill.