Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Celebrates the Recognition of Roberts Temple Church as part of the New Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following President Biden’s designation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson released the following statement:

"Today, I attended a significant ceremony where President Biden proclaimed the establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, a historic move that recognizes key landmarks in our nation's civil rights history. One of these landmarks is the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, located in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.

The Roberts Temple Church has always been more than just a place of worship. It stood as the backdrop to one of the most heartbreaking and catalytic events in American history. When young Emmett Till's life was brutally taken, it was within the walls of this church that the nation bore witness to the unspeakable horrors of racial prejudice, thanks to Mamie Till-Mobley's courageous decision to hold an open-casket funeral.

I believe that our history, both its shining moments and its darkest hours, shapes who we are today. By preserving and recognizing places like the Roberts Temple Church, we make a conscious choice to confront and understand the chapters of our past, especially when there are attempts to erase or dilute these essential narratives.

I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for their dedication to telling the full, unvarnished story of our nation's history. Let's continue to shine a light on our past, so we can illuminate the path to a brighter tomorrow."

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