James Bonard Fowler
Encyclopedia
James Bonard Fowler became a significant player in escalating the acute racial conflict that led to the Selma to Montgomery marches
in the American Civil Rights Movement
. As a corporal in the Alabama State Police
in 1965, he shot and killed an unarmed black man, Jimmie Lee Jackson
, a killing that went without justice for 45 years.
He is also under investigation by the FBI for the 1966 shooting death of a second black man, Nathan Johnson, one year later.
and attempted to peacefully walk to the City Jail about a half a block away where a young Civil Rights worker was being held. The march was to protest his arrest and sing hymns. They were met by a crowd of Marion City police officers, sheriff’s deputies and Alabama State Troopers. In the standoff, streetlights were abruptly turned off (some sources say that they were shot out by the police) and the police began to beat the protestors. Two United Press International
photographers were beaten by the police and their cameras were smashed and NBC News
correspondent Richard Valeriani
was beaten so badly that he was hospitalized.
26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson
, his mother, Viola Jackson and his 82-year-old grandfather, Cager Lee and others ran in to Mack’s Café pursued by about 10 Alabama State Troopers. Police clubbed Cager Lee to the floor and his daughter, Viola rushed to his aid. Jimmie Jackson went to his mother's aid and was shot twice in the abdomen by Fowler. He died on 26 February 1965.
Fowler claims that he acted in self-defense after Jackson grabbed his gun from its holster.
that occurred a few days later on “Bloody Sunday”, 7 March 1965.
Interviewed some time after the incident, Fowler stated:
After the shooting, Fowler returned to his duties as a State Trooper. He was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama
, and promoted. He states that he never got so much as a letter of reprimand
.
On 10 May 2007, 42 years after the homicide, Fowler was charged with first degree and second degree murder for the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and subsequently surrendered to authorities.
Fowler pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter on November 15, 2010.
Mr. Fowler apologized for the shooting but insisted that he had acted in self-defense, believing that Mr. Jackson was trying to grab his gun. Fowler was sentenced to six months in prison.
Police Department. At the time, press quoted authorities as saying Johnson had grabbed a billy club from Fowler and was attacking him when the officer shot Johnson twice in the chest.
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
in the American Civil Rights Movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
. As a corporal in the Alabama State Police
Alabama Highway Patrol
The Alabama Highway Patrol is a division of the Alabama Department of Public Safety and is the highway patrol agency for Alabama, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in Alabama.In 1971, the Alabama Highway...
in 1965, he shot and killed an unarmed black man, Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson was a civil rights protestor who was shot and killed by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler in 1965. Jackson was unarmed. His death inspired the Selma to Montgomery marches, an important event in the American Civil Rights movement. He was 26 years old.-Personal...
, a killing that went without justice for 45 years.
He is also under investigation by the FBI for the 1966 shooting death of a second black man, Nathan Johnson, one year later.
Shooting of Jimmie Lee Jackson
On the night of 18 February 1965, around 500 people left Zion United Methodist Church in Marion, AlabamaMarion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
and attempted to peacefully walk to the City Jail about a half a block away where a young Civil Rights worker was being held. The march was to protest his arrest and sing hymns. They were met by a crowd of Marion City police officers, sheriff’s deputies and Alabama State Troopers. In the standoff, streetlights were abruptly turned off (some sources say that they were shot out by the police) and the police began to beat the protestors. Two United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
photographers were beaten by the police and their cameras were smashed and NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
correspondent Richard Valeriani
Richard Valereani
Richard Valeriani was White House correspondent and diplomatic correspondent with NBC News in the 1960s and 1970s.He previously covered the civil rights movement for the network and was seriously injured when hit with an ax handle at a demonstration in Marion, Alabama in 1965 in which Jimmie Lee...
was beaten so badly that he was hospitalized.
26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson was a civil rights protestor who was shot and killed by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler in 1965. Jackson was unarmed. His death inspired the Selma to Montgomery marches, an important event in the American Civil Rights movement. He was 26 years old.-Personal...
, his mother, Viola Jackson and his 82-year-old grandfather, Cager Lee and others ran in to Mack’s Café pursued by about 10 Alabama State Troopers. Police clubbed Cager Lee to the floor and his daughter, Viola rushed to his aid. Jimmie Jackson went to his mother's aid and was shot twice in the abdomen by Fowler. He died on 26 February 1965.
Fowler claims that he acted in self-defense after Jackson grabbed his gun from its holster.
Impact
This incident provided the primary catalyst for the first Selma to Montgomery marchSelma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
that occurred a few days later on “Bloody Sunday”, 7 March 1965.
Delayed justice
A grand jury declined to indict Fowler in September 1965, identifying him only by his surname (“Fowler”).Interviewed some time after the incident, Fowler stated:
After the shooting, Fowler returned to his duties as a State Trooper. He was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and promoted. He states that he never got so much as a letter of reprimand
Letter of reprimand
A letter of reprimand is a United States Department of Defense procedure involving a letter to an employee or soldier from his or her superior that details the wrongful actions of the person and the punishment that can be expected...
.
On 10 May 2007, 42 years after the homicide, Fowler was charged with first degree and second degree murder for the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and subsequently surrendered to authorities.
Fowler pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter on November 15, 2010.
Mr. Fowler apologized for the shooting but insisted that he had acted in self-defense, believing that Mr. Jackson was trying to grab his gun. Fowler was sentenced to six months in prison.
Shooting of Nathan Johnson
FBI officials announced that they are seeking information in the May 8, 1966 death of 34-year-old Nathan Johnson. Johnson had been arrested for suspicion of drunken driving on US Highway 31 and was fatally shot by Fowler at the Alabaster, AlabamaAlabaster, Alabama
Alabaster is a city and southern suburb of Birmingham in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 22,619. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 27,517. At the 2010 census the population was 30,352. Alabaster is still a growing...
Police Department. At the time, press quoted authorities as saying Johnson had grabbed a billy club from Fowler and was attacking him when the officer shot Johnson twice in the chest.