A new Mississippi Freedom Trail marker has been unveiled at Jackson State University in honor of slain civil rights icon Benjamin Brown.
The marker was presented by Visit Mississippi, the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University, the Mississippi Humanities Council, and community leaders, during the 56th Gibbs-Green Commemoration on May 14. The annual ceremony takes place in remembrance of the 1970 tragedy when law enforcement officials fired nearly 400 rounds into a women’s dormitory at Jackson State, killing 21-year-old Phillip Lafayette Gibbs and 17-year-old James Earl Green.
During the event, officials celebrated Brown’s life and the role he played in advancing civil rights for Black Americans. A 22-year-old activist, Brown was fatally shot by police during protests on Lynch Street in May 1967.
“This marker ensures that Benjamin Brown’s story continues to be told and remembered,” Visit Mississippi Director Rochelle Hicks said. “The Mississippi Freedom Trail marker serves as both a place of reflection and a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight for civil rights.”
The Mississippi Freedom Trail pays tribute to Mississippi’s profound impact on the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The statewide initiative features over 40 markers commemorating the individuals, locations, and pivotal events that were instrumental in the struggle for civil rights.
