Conviction: The Murder Trial That Powered Thurgood Marshall's Fight for Civil Rights

In 1939, a triple murder occurred in rural Oklahoma, and convicts on work release were identified as the killers. The NAACP's Legal Defense and Education Fund, led by Thurgood Marshall, took on the case as a fundraising opportunity. The case went to the US Supreme Court, resulting in a significant victory for the NAACP and the social revolution in the United States.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 13 August 2019
Publisher: Chicago Review Press

On the night of New Year's Eve, 1939, a tragic triple murder took place in a remote area of Oklahoma. Within a few days, investigators managed to identify the culprits as convicts on work release who had been playing craps with one of the victims the previous evening. As public outrage grew, political pressure mounted to find someone to blame. The governor's representative settled on a young black farmhand named W.D. Lyons. Lyons was arrested, subjected to brutal torture, and forced to sign a confession. The NAACP, facing financial difficulties, sent its young chief counsel, Thurgood Marshall, to participate in the trial. Marshall saw this case as an opportunity to raise funds for both the state and national organizations. He was confident that the Lyons case would generate significant publicity and attract attention to the NAACP's cause.

Unfortunately, things did not unfold as Marshall had planned. The case took several unexpected turns, filled with dramatic plot twists. Conviction is the story of the oft-forgotten case that set Marshall and the NAACP on the path that ultimately led to victory in Brown v. Board of Education and the accompanying social revolution in the United States.

Lyons was arrested and taken into custody, where he endured brutal interrogation techniques. Despite his innocence, he was forced to sign a confession, which was later used against him at trial. The NAACP, determined to defend Lyons' rights, hired a team of skilled lawyers, including future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

The trial was a media spectacle, with widespread coverage in newspapers and on radio. The NAACP used the publicity to raise funds and increase its membership. Marshall's legal arguments were compelling, and he argued that Lyons' confession was obtained through torture and should not be considered valid.

The case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, where Marshall and the NAACP made a powerful case for racial equality. In a landmark decision, the Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, a decision that had far-reaching consequences for the civil rights movement.

The Lyons case was a turning point in the history of the NAACP and the civil rights movement. It demonstrated the organization's commitment to fighting for justice and equality, even in the face of adversity and opposition. Marshall's legal skills and strategic thinking played a crucial role in securing victory in the case, and his leadership helped to inspire a generation of activists and lawyers.

In conclusion, the triple murder that took place in rural Oklahoma on New Year's Eve, 1939, was a tragic event that led to a series of events that ultimately changed the course of American history. The case of W.D. Lyons, and the subsequent legal battle fought by the NAACP, showcased the organization's determination to fight for justice and equality. Marshall's leadership and legal skills played a crucial role in securing victory in the case, and his legacy continues to inspire activists and lawyers today.

Weight: 646g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781613738337