A 25 year old hate crime still affects Jasper, Texas

In the early morning hours of June 7, 1998, three men chained James Byrd Jr.’s ankles to the back of a pickup truck and dragged the 49-year-old Black man for nearly 3 miles down an isolated and woody road in the East Texas town of Jasper. The remains of Byrd’s decapitated and mutilated body were left outside of a nearby African American church to be found Sunday morning.
When James’ youngest sister, Louvon Byrd Harris, thinks back to growing up in Jasper, she recalls feelings of warmth and safety. Her eldest brother played a large role - he was the family comedian and protector.
“He enjoyed people and people enjoyed him,” she said.
Harris thought her brother’s vivacious attitude would keep him out of harm’s way. So when she received a phone call from her sister soon after her brother’s body was found, she was shocked and confused.
“He can talk his way out of anything and at one point, he had to realize that it’s not going to happen this time.”
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