Daughter of slain civil rights leader reflects on the haunting reality of political violence in America.

In Jackson, Mississippi, Reena Evers-Everette reflects on the painful legacy of political violence 60 years after her father, civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was assassinated by a white supremacist. The impact of that loss continues to resonate deeply as Evers-Everette expresses her sorrow, stating, “It’s painful. It’s very painful.”

Medgar Evers, the NAACP’s field secretary, was shot in 1963 outside his home in Jackson. His assassination marked the beginning of a tragic series of violent political events in the U.S., including the murders of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy later that decade.

Experts now warn that the current level of political violence may be the highest in decades, with recent incidents including the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and attempts on the life of political candidates. At a conference honoring what would have been Medgar Evers’ 100th birthday, Evers-Everette was joined by other daughters of civil rights leaders, including Kerry Kennedy and Bettie Dahmer. The event, “Medgar Evers at 100: a Legacy of Justice, a Future of Change,” highlighted the ongoing struggles for equality and justice. Kerry Kennedy shared her personal anguish, recalling how, after her father’s death, she prayed for his killer.

Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate, spoke out at the conference against recent efforts by the Trump administration that aim to erase the names of activists like Evers from Navy vessels. She emphasized the importance of recognizing history and the consequences of political violence, stressing that those who advocate for change should not live in fear of violence for their beliefs. Evers-Everette echoed this sentiment, urging a collective remembrance of history to combat the hatred that led to her father’s assassination and to ensure such violence does not happen again.