SUMNER — Emmett Till Interpretive Center/Emmett Till Interpretive Center Executive Director Patrick Weems issued the following statement Wednesday in observance of 2025 National Park Week (April 19 to April 27):
"Nearly two years ago, the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument became the country’s 425th national park, adding three historically significant sites to America's natural and physical repositories. Spanning from Graball Landing in Glendora, Miss., to the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse in Sumner, Miss., to Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, Ill., this monument tells the story of events that ignited the civil rights movement.
“National parks and historic sites are irreplaceable cultural assets that help us heal and give us hope. However, they cannot fulfill that purpose without sufficient funding and dedicated public support. In many ways, our nation’s collective journey toward justice, healing, and unity will happen in and through our national parks.
“Preserving national parks isn’t merely about maintaining landscapes or landmarks. It’s about honoring the legacy of the citizens and communities who have made our country what it is today. The legacy of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley calls us to “bear witness” to injustice–and to work together to end injustice and suffering across the nation.
“This National Park Week, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center invites you to visit and honor these pivotal chapters of our nation’s history, learn about our collective experiences, and commit to preserving these cultural resources for future generations.”
Patrick Weems, executive director of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner. (Photo via Shirlaurence Fair)
