Murder of Willie Brewster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murder of Willie Brewster |
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| Part of the Civil Rights Movement | |
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Brewster was killed while driving on Highway 202.
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| Location | Anniston, Alabama |
| Date | July 15, 1965 |
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Attack type
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Shooting |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victims | Willie Brewster |
| Perpetrators | Hubert Damon Strange |
Willie Brewster was a young Black man who lived in Anniston, Alabama. On July 13, 1965, he was driving home from work. A white man named Hubert Damon Strange shot him. Willie Brewster died in the hospital two days later. This event was a sad part of the Civil Rights Movement.
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The Shooting of Willie Brewster
On July 15, 1965, Willie Brewster was driving home. He was with his coworkers after their night shift. Suddenly, shots were fired into their car. The shooter was Hubert Damon Strange. He was a white supremacist, meaning he believed white people were superior to others.
Willie Brewster was hit in the neck. He passed away three days later from his injuries. A local newspaper, The Anniston Star, offered a large reward. They wanted information to find and convict those responsible.
The Court Case
Hubert Damon Strange was later found guilty of the murder. An all-white jury made this decision on December 2, 1965. This was a very important moment in Alabama's history. It was the first time an all-white jury had convicted a white man for killing a Black man.
The jury decided Strange should go to prison for 10 years. The plan to shoot a Black person was reportedly made by members of a group called the National States' Rights Party. This group was a violent Neo-Nazi group. Neo-Nazis are people who follow the ideas of the Nazi party from Germany, which promoted racism and violence. Members of this group had been involved in violent acts against Black people.
What Happened Next?
Hubert Damon Strange never went to prison for his crime. He was released while waiting for an appeal. An appeal is when someone asks a higher court to review their case. In 1967, Strange was killed in a fight. Because he died, his appeal was stopped.
Remembering Willie Brewster
In 2016, a special marker was put up near where Willie Brewster was shot. This was done by the City of Anniston. It helps people remember what happened to him. Willie Brewster's name is also on a list of Civil Rights Martyrs. This list is kept by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It honors people who died while fighting for civil rights.
