edition.cnn.com
Justice Sought in 1945 Civil Rights Cold Case
Newly released documents detail the 1945 death of Hattie DeBardelaben at the hands of Alabama law enforcement, highlighting racial injustice and a subsequent cover-up.
English
United States
JusticeHuman Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsPolice BrutalityCivil RightsCold CaseRacial Injustice
National Archives And Records AdministrationNaacpFbiDepartment Of JusticeCivil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act Review Board
Hattie DebardelabenMary DebardelabenEdward DebardelabenBennie DebardelabenClyde White
- How did Hattie DeBardelaben die, and what new information has come to light?
- Hattie DeBardelaben died in 1945 after being beaten by law enforcement officers in Alabama. Newly released federal documents detail the assault and subsequent cover-up, providing answers to her granddaughter Mary DeBardelaben's decades-long quest for justice.
- What events led to Hattie DeBardelaben's death according to the newly released documents?
- The documents reveal that Hattie DeBardelaben was washing clothes when officers arrived, accusing her of selling illegal whiskey. After she and her nephew were struck, she was hauled into a police car where she died en route to jail, possibly from a broken neck.
- What was the response of law enforcement and government officials following Hattie DeBardelaben's death?
- The officers involved were never held accountable for Hattie DeBardelaben's death, despite investigations by federal agencies and the NAACP. A state grand jury declined to indict, and one officer went on to become Autauga County sheriff.
- What are the feelings and reactions of Hattie DeBardelaben's descendants, and what are their hopes for the future?
- Mary DeBardelaben and her family have found some closure, but they seek further accountability, perhaps through a posthumous arrest or an apology from the government. They hope to educate future generations about the injustices of the Jim Crow South.
- What is the significance of the release of these documents in the context of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act?
- The release of these documents is part of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, which aims to shed light on unresolved cases of civil rights abuses. The act was signed into law in 2019 and is overseen by a review board.