John Earl Reese

Reese's killing is considered by authorities today to have been a hate crime, designed to thwart the creation of a new school in the community.

Two white men, Joe Simpson and Perry Dean Ross, shot the teenagers from a passing car.

His cousins survived, but Reese died the next day.

The two suspects shot up some homes and churches before being arrested.

[1][4] The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project has taken the following steps in response to Reese's murder:[1]