John Earl Reese facts for kids

John Earl Reese (October 9, 1939 – October 23, 1955) was a Black teenager from Gregg County, Texas. He was sadly killed in an event that authorities now call a hate crime. This means he was targeted because of his race. The crime was meant to stop a new school from being built in his community.

What Happened to John Earl Reese?

On October 22, 1955, John Earl Reese was dancing at a local cafe. His cousins, Joyce Faye Crockett Nelson and Johnnie Crockett, were with him. Two white men, Joe Simpson and Perry Dean Ross, drove by in a car. They shot at the teenagers.

John's cousins survived the shooting. But John Earl Reese died the very next day.

The Aftermath and Justice

After the shooting, the two suspects, Ross and Simpson, continued to cause trouble. They shot at homes and churches before they were arrested.

Perry Dean Ross was found guilty of murder. He was given a five-year sentence, but it was suspended. This meant he did not have to go to prison right away. The charges against Joe Simpson were later dropped.

Remembering John Earl Reese

The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project has worked to honor John Earl Reese. They have taken several important steps:

• They helped change his death certificate. It now correctly says he died by homicide, not by accident.
• They helped create new gravestones for him.
• A local street was renamed John Earl Reese Road in his memory.