Today is Friday, May 15, 2020.

On this day in 1970, armed police forces from across Mississippi were called to the Jackson State

University campus to subdue a group of students protesting the Vietnam War.

Shortly after midnight, the police opened fire on the students, injuring 12, and killing 2. Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original.

Today we're covering the Jackson State University killings.

It had been only 11 days since the Ohio National Guard opened fire at Kent State University,

killing four young Vietnam protesters.

Let's go back to Jackson, Mississippi around midnight on May 15th, 1970. 17 year old

old James Earl Green was walking home from the late shift at the local

supermarket.

Night after night, he took that same path

past the Jackson State University campus.

A senior at Jim Hill High School,

James admired the students who would linger outside, having deep intellectual

talks while they smoked their Marlboro lights.

Perhaps one day soon, he'd be one of them. But tonight things were different. A large crowd of primarily

African American students had gathered outside the campus, toting signs and chanting anti-war slogans. On top of

protesting the Vietnam War and the recent massacre at Kent State University,

the students were fired up over a rumor that was spreading like wildfire.

There were whispers that Charles Evers, the African American mayor of Fayette, Mississippi had been assassinated. Of course, such an assassination

would surely be racially motivated. The students were appalled by the

several of the Caucasian citizens meanwhile were likewise appalled

...