James Bonard Fowler

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James Bonard Fowler (b. 10 September 1933) became an icon in the conflict that led to the Selma to Montgomery marches in the American Civil Rights Movement as a corporal in the Alabama State Police.

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[edit] Shooting of Jimmie Lee Jackson

On the night of 18 February 1965, around 500 people left Zion United Methodist Church in Marion, Alabama and attempted to peacefully walk to the City Jail about a half a block away where a young Civil Rights worker was being held. The march was to protest his arrest and sing hymns. They were met by a crowd of Marion City police officers, sheriff’s deputies and Alabama State Troopers. In the standoff, streetlights were abruptly turned off (some sources say that they were shot out by the police[1]) and the police began to beat the protestors.[1][2] Two United Press International photographers were beaten by the police and their cameras were smashed and NBC News correspondent Richard Valeriani was beaten so badly that he was hospitalized.[1]

26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson, his mother, Viola Jackson and his 82-year-old grandfather, Cager Lee and others ran in to Mack’s Café pursued by about Alabama State Troopers. Police clubbed Cager Lee and to the floor and his daughter, Viola rushed to his aid. Jimmie Jackson went to his mother's aid and was shot twice in the abdomen by Fowler. He died on 26 February 1965.[2]

Fowler claims that he acted in self-defense after Jackson grabbed his gun from its holster.[3]

[edit] Aftermath

This incident provided the primary catalyst for the first Selma to Montgomery march that occurred a few days later on “Bloody Sunday”, 7 March 1965.[2]

A grand jury declined to indict Fowler in September 1965, identifying him only by his surname (“Fowler”).[2]

Interviewed some time after the incident, Fowler stated:

"I don’t remember how many times I pulled the trigger, but I think I just pulled it once, but I might have pulled it three times. I don’t remember. I didn’t know his name at the time, but his name was Jimmy Lee Jackson. He weren’t dead. He didn’t die that night. But I heard about a month later that he died.”[2]

After the shooting, Fowler returned to his duties as a State Trooper. He was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, and promoted. He states that he never got so much as a letter of reprimand.[2]

[edit] Indictment

On 10 May 2007, 42 years after the crime, Fowler was charged with first degree and second degree murder for the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and surrendered to authorities.[3] A date for his trial has not yet been set.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Davis, Townsend (1998). Weary Feet, Rested Souls: A Guided History of the Civil Rights Movement. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 121,122. ISBN 0393045927. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f Fleming, John (6 March 2005), “The Death of Jimmy Lee Jackson”, Anniston Star, <http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2005/as-insight-0306-jflemingcol-5c09o1640.htm>. Retrieved on 21 January 2008 
  3. ^ a b “Nation in Brief: Indictment Brought in Civil-Rights-Era Death”, Washington Post: A08, 10 May 2007, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/09/AR2007050902488.html>. Retrieved on 21 January 2008 
  4. ^ Rawls, Phillip (22 January 2008), “No trial date yet in fatal civil rights-era shooting in Alabama”, Florida Times-Union (Associated Press), <http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/012208/D8UB6AC03.shtml>. Retrieved on 25 January 2008