AUGUST 13, 1955 · BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI
LAMAR SMITH WAS SHOT DEAD ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN BY A WHITE MAN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WHILE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WATCHED. THE KILLER WAS NEVER INDICTED BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD ADMIT THEY SAW A WHITE MAN SHOOT A BLACK MAN. SMITH HAD ORGANIZED BLACKS TO VOTE IN A RECENT ELECTION. NO PROOF OF MURDER, THEREFORE HE WASN’T MURDERED.
