Emmitt Tills’ mother wanted an open casket at her son’s funeral so the nation could see the injustice placed on her black son for talking, possibly whistling, at a white girl. Today, Tills’ life serves as a key event that started the civil rights movement and as an incentive for those who further investigate cases that have yet to give victims’ families the satisfaction of justice.The Paul M. Hebert Law Center’s Pugh Institute presented The Cold Case Justice Initiative Program on Tuesday, which is a collaborative effort started by two Syracuse University law professors in which journalist and law students try to find the common link between 1960s civil rights murders. Paula Johnson and Janis McDonald, co-directors of the program, built the class at Syracuse Law School for investigation of 1960s civil rights murders from the ground up. Since then, it turned into both a volunteer and educational effort beyond the classroom.”The killings that have happened during this time period are not isolated,” Johnson said. “They really are a part of one whole scheme.”The Cold Case Justice Initiative follows the mantra, “the past is not the past,” describing the mentality in which the students at Syracuse University and other organizations throughout the country follow.”In order to have integrity in the law, we have to heal certain wounds,” McDonald said. “Therefore, we still have an obligation to them.”Initiative participants conduct investigations and research unresolved cases. The program serves as a clearing house to share and receive information on active cases.The initiative was founded in response to the 1964 murder of Frank Morris in Ferriday, which remains unsolved.”The interdisciplinary work has led to roughly 50 cold cases being reopened,” Johnson said.None of these cases has been solved, but the point of the investigations is to find the link between these civil rights murders, Johnson said.The course taught at Syracuse Law School involves weekly meetings, legal and journalistic investigation methods, journal entries and legal and journalistic ethical cannons.”This has completely revitalized investigations by combining the journalism profession with law in a joint effort to solve not current crimes, but crimes committed in the ‘60s,” said Law Center Clinical Director Robert Lancaster.The forum began by showing the efforts of students at Syracuse to solve these cases.”We are trying to create a structure that incorporates everything in the course with volunteer efforts,” McDonald said. “We as professors see growth and excitement from the students, which in return causes them to come out of this changed. That is a great aspect of law school.”First year law student Jennifer Hull said she wishes that more humanitarian courses would be offered at the Law Center so students can get more investigative experience.”I really thought that what they presented was different and interesting,” said Hull.The Emmitt Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act was recently passed and promises the necessary resources to local government and FBI agencies to help solve civil rights murder cases.The Pugh Institute provides support for research, educational and pro bono activities that promote justice for individuals in the administration of Justice.- – – -Contact Kristen Higdon at [email protected]