Pre-interview with Emma Jean Jackson

This is a phone call with Emma Jean Jackson sister of Jimmy Lee Jackson. Who lives in Utah Alabama. July 24th 1996. As I just turned the recorder on and as I said this is just for our own internal research purposes. OK over here remember OK where are you now a couple of them real simple just to start. Did Jimi spell his name with an eye ear with a y. I really appreciate that if the right it's all right here we have seen it spelled so many different ways. Yeah well that's one half and half. So it's a riot. Yeah it's the right OK. Once you have Vietnam veterans. No. He wasn't. And then the question is just. Right it. Happened that night were you there. Yes I was there we were not the other fellow actually at the night give you a definite account of really what happened to him the only thing I know that he was that and where he was that you know

I don't know you know I mean you know in what location there in the town I know it was only the church and the cafe not where and that area at that now. And what is the story that you heard about what actually happened. There I heard was that he was Dad I never knew who shot him and he was stabbed in the stomach and was taken to the paragon of hospital and. They did not do anything for him. So then they took them to the marathon and I will you know which hospital will be taken to first para County had go. To her county. And. Who was the guy who did you hear the story of what happened. I heard the story that he was protecting your mother when he got shot Is that true. I can't their wives and I live like that they are OK with. The three of us you know whatever people. And we had but then we were separated you know I mean we were not together I was not with

the MP if he was protected her I was not with you you know that I was not with her. So you know I like that that I did not the Nabob accountable. You know. And. Do what was her was her account of it or what. Who did you hear your account that you did hear. What happened from. There. They were there when I when I'm telling you is it with the people. Yeah you know and with no definite person that nobody ever actually Power me exactly what happened that you know. Ramsay married the person that you know better never tell me exactly you know what happened I haven't though that he was that you know and. There was what I never thought he. I never saw him from the tap on that night. Whatever time I found him that night before he was shot. I never saw him in MO until. We were there. Was. Yeah. That I know you mean that.

You do as your mother was very good. My mother. And I got to know whether with the poli the web or whatever he had he had a hit with lit up and right on the left that. Yet was her account of what happened. OK. Are they all in my mother and we were not together but that he would never tell me you know what happened what happened to him you know the on that he never knew our life that he was protecting me. Because. The night he bad they caught her. Never let me. Be. Really. And I can't figure out how you know that. In that. You know I remember you in the bar car and I are the way that they're mad. At the way wiser than I am. Well. The reason I know he never he didn't say out me was the car that he had I would have remembered it you know. You know but he did in the Army and I think maybe I'll take the next day at battle he would be a by I would he at that hospital because our going to go with me and I was going to take it up and

he never did tell me of them and tell me you know the NFL at that he you know I guess maybe he will get back in with me. Sure sure. Yeah I remember you at the time that all this happened that night. OK. Hour and a look at a down you know behind the Wilbraham internationally and then the mayor and I haven't been there now but hey I mean then you never get around to here. Yeah OK what are our what we're going to look at a behind the curtain OK the terror. Plot. And the end. That day. And I will get over that and I would work and there was the name of that candidate 0 0 0 and there have been what is not going on there on our thing is. What. Was the name of the one. I believe there was. The. Can.

Can. I can look it up in the various books that we've we've got here and see our When I speak you tomorrow morning I'll ask you whether that sounds like a threat or not OK. Again I don't know the lady that worked there and I would say OK I made that array and it. And the person I ran a boho with the market. You know and our weapons everything was right and look at that. And. Then even better than. That. Right right. Yeah. Bad enough the man on the private note that was this. Is. The only body of Glee. Now you know the I'm better at that. OK. And you know your mom was during at the time it all OK everything. My mama got he got he got he had in the here and the cat. My. Now I come back and maybe my brother were. Protecting my granddad because he got hurt. Really. Yeah. And I think that the count that I heard because

he had been hurt because. My grandfather came out of back of the church and I and my brother and they were they were beating them. And my brother with a private take my grandfather and my grandma and my brother that my grandfather that be. Rather Gabby. Kind of play I think starting our job. These guys do storm into the cafe and started beating people arcade Nowadays they beat them from the earth to look at people they started beating every tear and they then our people ran to the cafe because the cafe is where our of the right. People hung out and you know and they're right there with like our gathering you can know you could be any doubt about the whatever you know they are they are bright thought of a gathering because they were right where the con at they are and everything is safe place and home and so they were running there with the troopers just storming along behind the ride. Around the church and did they beat them with sticks or were like

night sticks were the other big the Billick or thank. You know. Yeah. And you think that maybe Jimmy was trying to protect your grandfather would read out yet. Now when I think about I think that that would be. How old were you with the time. They were with the. 65 And that right. All right. You're about 10 years younger than than Jimmy was. Yeah we are can you now that I'm yeah. Was there ever a homicide investigation into what happened. Like I said I think. Marc they would try to protect me. Really where we're going now and I bring my mother and my mom and now I am now. But with me. Is anyone who was in your family was older at the time still alive who might know what really

happened. While. I doubt it. Like you're on I actually got your phone number from your work. Mrs. Turner gave me the number of your aunt and then then your aunt gave me your phone number originally. OK I know. Yeah ok you may now run or run I want to be made now because like I am I better than they did the lot of but they didn't play on me because they would happen. They yell What is your name again. Johnny met Johnny May Day or at the end and I. Am home. Yet. And her last name is Emmy. Now you remember the I'm a member of the you are the only man to you Are you do you in and her phone number. Erica day three sixty three a great day for it. Yeah Did it ever. We did in fact we interviewed Albert and. I can't remember off the top of my head what

he's nobody was talking about how they are ran back as you say from the church and everyone was being beaten and I'm not sure that he knows exactly how Jimi was killed one but he said that you know it was a panda you know. Yeah. Pandemonium and everything was rollin. And he did so I think that the trooper shot Jimmy Lee point blank in the stomach. But I know you are fatter than me and I thought first there was a true man and I are account for my dad. Their. Mom I'm right I'm part of the matter at the end you know. Right back to YOUR DAY AND I AM. Sure. That another story that that we've heard or read is that he was killed by the doctors in the right hospital. After he was worked on by a black doctor it's merit and is not true. I don't know at our theater here. You know. I mean I don't know how they got in there to do it. I mean rather awful how you write the. Yeah yeah.

And then maybe they get in there I don't know like I said it's nothing and I now. Have always had that feeling you know after you know I got. Medical from that where the stuff I've heard medical people say you know right he had only of what a day. And I never read that Hooper of the room you know they are over there you know hey. Hey maybe my mother even though that but they're right at this he would never tell me. And she was no longer alive to write you know that he that. Bad. That you. That. You. I want when. After Jimmy was heard he was alive for eight days was he conscious consciously or during that era. Brad Brad Carter the one thing I will that I never thought him you know. You. Are you. I mean they were all you know bearing and everything that. Sure I couldn't even tell you how bad they went there and I. Remember our 8:00 hour

right when a riot if we had. No protection while you and I will. Not know it you know if anybody even thought about. You know they give them protection why you would deny the would you not know how to be able to get to me and if he would run a mayor be in them you know do you actually the Samaritan Hospital where he died or was he in another hospital when you know he was that good for America. It's alright then. Yeah I mean I was in there when I think of it but I would never want you back in a battle with. You. They will be undertaker dead. Yeah I don't. Think. That. OK OK. I appreciate your answer and questions it must be difficult. Oh. Yeah. And I can tell you that today it depresses you should read because I mean there I guess a depression there because there are

so many things that I don't actually know you know. And. Lots of unsolved questions still. Yeah Brett. I am not unlike that you not a statement about you know him being him being set up in the Hart building you know. Our eighth wonder that. Well. And we were figuring out and find out will tell you what happened because your valedictory it only maybe ever helped me you know I read. There one day and hour one. You know what you know what actually happened you know and the hot girl. Sure. Sure. I don't have an album. Yeah I was down in Selma and in Birmingham and Montgomery. Back in January but we were on such a tight schedule that we didn't have time to make it. Marion Bud loved call.

I mean I think if you had to get there if I were going to cancel it certainly look you up. Yeah right you have my phone number and I'm I'm here that would have me I'll be with an egg. Right. Thanking you for. An hour. Well you know I. Don't work when we're at work. We're kind of thing for him to come over. Fam I mean whatever kind of thing to you have a family. Laugh get the fems covering the period from World War 2 our way up through 1965 the civil rights movement so the first film talks about the black vets returning from World War 2. And how they saw things and how they've been changed by their experience. And. Quickly go through some movements of the of the 40s and 50s early 50s but certainly it starts with the Brown decision. The murder of Emmett Till on the Montgomery bus boycott. Men show to who is going to be the sort of a lot

of the legal desegregation decisions like the Army the Marine Lucy case and the Little Rock case of 57. Show 3 is that about the sit ins over the cell and the freedom rides. Chauffeur was going to be about the movement in Albany. And then what happened in Birmingham. And finally the March on Washington. Show five is going to be about what happened in Mississippi and it's going to focus on what happened the summer of 1964. You know the Freedom Summer and where those three kids were killed in voter registration and the challenge in Atlantic City to the Democratic Party and then show six is going to be about what happened in the summer campaign. And obviously part of that is what happened in Marion Alabama too. Yeah OK. Do they have to if they are intimate here I can be sure I do I'd be glad to. Yes and OK. You see I am doing. We have like this $3 an hour when they get their material

that I would really appreciate. You know my kids sure I'd be more than glad to what's your address. 130 Avenue 130 avenue you Teil about U T H U T A W E U T A W. Yeah I'm sorry. 3 5 4 6 2. Yeah I know I am Africa Iraq after work and I love domino day. Yeah you know now we know. We'd be glad isn't it in fact what's going to happen after the films are shown on television. They're going to be shown on public television stations all over the country. In January of 1987. And then there are going to be. Put on video cassette and soar to high schools and colleges and various people to use as a course as a college course and as a high school

course. And we're putting together not only the films but also some books good documents some readings and interesting letters and speeches and. And to be used with the films in a classroom setting. I'll send you all the information about the other day and there will be you know it will be here history when we do it and when we add really. Go our own way. And they're not bad at a material. That you come February this year the shelves are going to be shown. There are six of them and will be shown run every week starting I think close to Martin Luther King's birthday so in February those films will be on the air this coming February so that could be an interesting thing for them to watch.

And send you all the information and I'll speak to you tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock to find out whether we can track down this photograph. We're. Very very close to completing that film and we're reading for that one photograph how they're going to shoot up so we'll see what we can do. OK. Thanks a lot. You bet.