He became a true witness to both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ. In Birmingham when Dr. Martin Luther King was jailed, Bevel organized what became known as the Children's Crusade and faced Police Commissioner Bull Connor's fire hoses and police dogs. At a family reunion, three other daughters had also alleged that Bevel sexually abused them. And know that it could come back to them pretty harsh. Although Bevel initially intended to pursue a recording career, he felt called to Christian ministry. She said Bevel's recent conviction does not detract from his work in the civil rights movement. As the Chicago movement neared its conclusion A. J. Muste, David Dellinger, representatives of North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, and others asked Bevel to take over the directorship of the Spring Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. I don't understand how parents violate their children in any way, realizing their children will grow up, and they're not going to forget. The four-day trial divided members of Bevel's large family, with relatives testifying for both the prosecutor and defense. After the verdict, Bevel claimed that the charges were part of a conspiracy to destroy his reputation, and said that he might appeal. Far from be-ing "secondary," King's popular essays and incandes-cent oratory made him unique. And I am wondering how it is that you and your siblings, you particularly, were able to do it. And we really wanted our father based on who he is and his own understanding to take that step to look at himself, to begin to if not challenge other men first by challenging himself. Bevel was born on October 19, 1936 in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Three months after the March on Washington, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson ascended to the Oval Office. [12], In 1960, along with James Lawson's and Myles Horton's students Bernard Lafayette, John Lewis, Diane Nash, C.T. Eventually, the Freedom Riders reached their goal of New Orleans, Louisiana, generating nationwide coverage of the violence to maintain Jim Crow and white supremacy in the South.[16]. One, their own stories, each of them being able to tell their stories to me and for us to share. Legendary actor James Caan tragically passed away on July 6 at the age of 82. At the time, he was living and working in Leesburg, Virginia, near LaRouche's headquarters. After the news media highlighted police commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor's violent treatment of the children, public opinion began to shift in favor of the civil rights movement. And we just - it just didn't worked because he reverts back to his role as the leader or the person who has to teach and help everybody to understand his perspective. Last week, Joanna Connors a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer told us about how 20 years later being raped still made her feel powerless and ashamed. The national and international media covered the story, and photographs of the force used against schoolchildren generated public outrage against the city and its officials. [13] While at seminary, Bevel reread Leo Tolstoy's 1894 book The Kingdom of God Is Within You, which had previously inspired his decision to leave the military. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). "We know that the defendant is dying," said Prosecutor Gigi Lawless. Bevel then launched into an extended explanation of his philosophy, which includes applying the teachings of the New Testament to the "science of constitutionality." And the heat is intense. "Jim Bevel was Martin Luther King's most influential aide," civil rights historian David J. Garrow said. MARTIN: I think it's fair to say that you, your other siblings went through a very great deal. Bevel and others were grieved and outraged. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. But he was also a child predator, who exploited the trust of his family by molesting his daughter Aaralyn Mills. Diane Nash is an acclaimed American civil rights activist. They, Nash, and others stayed in Mississippi to work on grassroots organizing. Nash would meet and marry James Bevel, a Minister as well as a Civil Rights Activist, in 1961. From the Helen L. Bevel Archives, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Bevel&oldid=1140934352, Statements by Rev. Born 1927 and died 2001. In the melee, Jackson was shot in the stomach while defending his mother from an attack. James E Bevel's bio. Almost 1,000 students were arrested on the first day. After a stint in the services, Bevel was called to the ministry and enrolled in the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee. In a shocking development, Crystal stated that her brothers, Robert and Michael, were responsible for the attacks. Ms. MILLS: It was actually, as in the article, I was actually watching a Oprah show and it was - the difference in this, was there was a little girl. You can also ask your. Springfield, Virginia, USA; Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. Weeks of demonstrations and marches resulted in King, Ralph Abernathy, and Shuttlesworth being arrested and jailed. In May 2007, Bevel was arrested in Alabama on a charge of incest committed sometime between October 1992 and October 1994 in Loudoun County, Virginia. MARTIN: How did you become aware that this was wrong? He had stints in the Navy and graduated in 1961 from Nashville's American Baptist Theological Seminary. And I hid them in her purse or in her shoes and things. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whose influence spurred a pivotal event of the civil rights movement, the "children's crusade" in Birmingham, Ala., but whose reputation was later marred by fringe political associations and a criminal conviction this year on incest charges involving a teenage daughter, died Friday in Springfield, Va. [13] SCLC's remaining Board of Directors removed Bevel from his leadership positions in 1969. Particularly my - one of my - little sister, not the youngest one that was in the household, but particularly her because I had, I had sought to protect to her. [36], On April 10, 2008, after a three-hour deliberation, the jury convicted Bevel of incest. MARTIN: How many siblings do you believe were abused by your father? Menu. In subsequent years Bevel continued his political activism. A one-time top lieutenant to Martin Luther King Jr. was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for having sex more than a decade ago with his then-teenage daughter. Bevel proposed organizing the Alabama Voting Rights Project, and co-wrote the project proposal with his wife Diane Nash. "Everyone dies. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [7], Prior to his time with SCLC, Bevel worked in the Nashville Student Movement, which conducted the 1960 Nashville Lunch-Counter Sit-Ins, the 1961 Open Theater Movement, and recruited students to continue the 1961 Freedom Rides after they were attacked. After King's assassination in 1968, Bevel helped lead many of King's unfinished efforts, such as a demonstration to support striking sanitation workers in Memphis. He was convicted earlier this year of having sex 15 years ago with his then-teenage daughter in Virginia. When the winds from the East. "He confronted Bevel, who had been a mentor to Jackson and Young, as 'a genius who flummoxed his own heart'. How should we think about those two James Bevels? Bevel and others were grieved and outraged. Ms. MILLS: I don't, I don't think he's mentally ill. As a girl she was repeated molested by her father the Reverend James Bevel, one of the most brilliant and daring strategists of the civil rights movement, an Icon. His pressure paid off, and at the May 1964 executive staff meeting King recommended that SCLC increase its presence in Alabama. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It doesn't necessarily make sense. He was 72. In the melee, Jackson was shot in the stomach while defending his mother from an attack. Bevel was convicted of unlawful fornication; he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $50,000. Ms. MILLS: Her - the exact statement was that I spelled molest wrong. Ms. MILLS: Right. Accuracy and availability may vary. What if I do, we do remove my little sister from the environment and what if she decides to go back when she's 17 or 18 to see her dad, and he does the same thing and she gets wrapped up in his spell. Marriage didn't slow down her activism. James Bevel was the charismatic Southern Christian Leadership Conference field general who organized and led many of the actions of the Chicago Freedom Movement.Born in Mississippi in 1936, Bevel came to the civil rights movement after training to be a minister at the American Baptist Seminary and a brief stint in the Army.. Bevel first learned of the potential of non-violent direct action in . I think he's more like a spoiled child in which he has been doing and being the way he is for so long that he gets away with it. So, I didn't feel that it was wrong. Bevel selected the student teams for the buses. James L. Bevel, a prominent figure in the civil rights movement whose legacy was clouded by an incest conviction has died, a relative said. So, I grew up with a fear of society and of people, and a great mistrust for the system and a great trust in my father. Mass demonstrations by students triggered a violent police response that brought national attention to Birmingham. [28][29], Bevel moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in November 1990 as the leader of the "Citizens Fact-Finding Commission to Investigate Human Rights Violations of Children in Nebraska", a group organized by the Schiller Institute. So, we can assess it based on the truth or the facts in the matter and not just conspiracy as my father had called. James Bevel discusses his family's ethnic origins, James Bevel shares his family's philosophy on ancestry and ethnicity, James Bevel talks about his parents' backgrounds, James Bevel explains his father's influence and enlightenment, James Bevel discusses black land ownership, James Bevel remembers his childhood community of Itta Bena, Mississippi, James Bevel remembers the social climate of his childhood community, James Bevel describes his father's notoriety in Itta Bena, Mississippi, James Bevel talks about childhood activities and his siblings, James Bevel discusses his father's involvement with Mississippi Valley State University, James Bevel explains his move to Cleveland, Ohio, James Bevel talks about attending school in Cleveland, Ohio, James Bevel recalls entering the U.S. Navy and experiences there, James Bevel talks about his reasons for leaving the U.S. Navy, James Bevel talks about voluntarily leaving the U.S. Navy, James Bevel discusses being called into the ministry, James Bevel recalls lessons learned at the American Baptist Theological Seminary, Nashville, Tennessee, James Bevel explains his evangelical belief system, James Bevel reflects on the open theater movement, James Bevel discusses the organization and planning of the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville, Tennessee, James Bevel talks about his strategies for activism, James Bevel discusses strategies for sit-ins in Nashville, Tennessee, James Bevel recalls the outcome of civil rights activism in Nashville, Tennessee, James Bevel comments on the reactions of university faculty to civil rights activism in Nashville, Tennessee, James Bevel talks about the major players and disciplines of the Nashville Civil Rights Movement, James Bevel reflects on the personality and influence of Ella Baker, James Bevel talks about SNCC's early actions, James Bevel explains his and SNCC's positive reaction to President John F. Kennedy, James Bevel explains strategies for voter registration in Nashville and the outcome of the effort, James Bevel remembers his involvement with the Freedom Rides, James Bevel explains how serving jail time helped the cause of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, James Bevel discusses plans for ending segregation in Jackson, Mississippi, James Bevel discusses his involvement in civil rights activism in Mississippi, James Bevel explains the reasoning for launching COFO in Mississippi, James Bevel talks about the goals of COFO, James Bevel remembers incidents surrounding the Medgar Evers murder, James Bevel details the Birmingham, Alabama Civil Rights Movement, James Bevel talks about bringing the Civil Rights Movement into the national political arena, James Bevel explains his focus as a nonviolent activist, Occupation(s): And as if it was a conspiracy against him. And I remember in school they talked about good touches and bad touches, but the difference was, I didn't trust the people in school. That was very hard for me. Pancreatic cancer James Bevel/Cause of death Bevel died Friday in Virginia after a fight with pancreatic cancer, said a daughter, Chevara Orrin, who lives in Winston-Salem, N.C. In 1963, Bevel took on a new role as the SCLC's director of Direct Action and Non-violent Education. According to a 2003 interview,[24] Bevel's favorite color was black, his favorite food was avocado, and his favorite time of year was spring. Mr. Bevel attended New Hope Church of Christ and was president of the Whitaker Cemetery Board. He was tried in April 2008, convicted of incest, sentenced to 15 years in prison,[11] and fined $50,000. Lafayette and his wife, Colia Lidell, also opened an SNCC project in Selma, Alabama, to assist the work of local organizers such as Amelia Boynton. No one wants the government in their home. James Drury -- the star of the Western series, "The Virginian" -- has died. The assault occurred in the early 1990s in Loudoun County, when Bevel was working closely with the Virginia-based organization led by political extremist Lyndon LaRouche. Bevel led this effort as the head of SCLCs Direct Action Department. What helped you to understand that? As a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and then as its Director of Direct Action and Nonviolent Education, Bevel initiated, strategized, and developed SCLC's three major successes of the era:[2][3] the 1963 Birmingham Children's Crusade,[4] the 1965 Selma voting rights movement, and the 1966 Chicago open housing movement. Practices such as requiring payment of poll taxes and literacy tests administered in a discriminatory way by white officials maintained the exclusion of blacks from the political system in the 1960s. [41] He married two other women in the following decades, and had told the court during his incest case that he had 16 children born of seven women. And when she told me that everything I told her about what's happening as I was telling her that really hurt me. Bevel was at Kings side during many of the major campaigns of the, (SCLC) and was at the Lorraine Motel at the time of Kings, Bevel feared that activists who were not committed to. Bevel pleaded not guilty to the one count charged and maintained his innocence. James Luther Bevel (October 19, 1936 - December 19, 2008) was a minister and leader of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Though not a lawyer, Mr. Bevel offered to represent Mr. Ray in court. And we have to find a way, because they exist. Bevel left SCLC after Kings death and became involved in the Republican Party and the 1995 Million Man March. It contains an photo offset with an additional photo, coupled with a bio. James Bevel would have been 72 years old at the time of death or 78 years old today. Freedom's Ring: King's "I Have a Dream" Speech, King holds press conference on opening day of Youth Leadership Conference at Shaw University, King addresses Youth Leadership Conference in Raleigh. Bevel had hoped for probation so he could enter hospice care. From previous discussions with King, and from work of American Friends Service Committee activist Bill Moyer, Bevel organized, and directed the Chicago open housing movement. He is known for 4 Little Girls (1997), Eyes on the Prize (1987) and King in Chicago (2008). Im very proud to be the daughter of a man who contributed so much to the world through his civil rights work, one of his daughters, Chevarra Orrin, of Winston-Salem, N.C., told The Associated Press. Bevel then called off plans for the children's march. And so, I had moved on and I had felt that my father perhaps - like it was my fault. Later efforts in Mississippi developed as Freedom Summer in 1964, when extensive voter education and registration efforts took place. James Luther Bevel, (born Oct. 19, 1936, Itta Bena, Miss., U.S.died Dec. 19, 2008, Springfield, Va.), American minister and political activist who played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement in the early 1960s. Civil Rights Activist. Bevel also served as pastor and adviser to Chicago's Council of Mothers; the West Side Baptist Minister's Conference; WorkShip Coalition; and the Nation of Islam. In 1967, Bevel was chairman of the Spring Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. That really made me feel not just powerless but that, what can you do? And yes, she dismissed it in that regard. His contention that convicted assassin James Earl Ray was not guilty of Kings murder embarrassed many in the movement. Civil rights activist Reverend James Luther Bevel was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, on October 19, 1936. Prosecutors opposed Bevel's release. IE 11 is not supported. While in the Jackson jail, Bevel and Bernard Lafayette initiated the Mississippi Voting Rights Movement. His brother - and we were all present, either on the phone or live. These quality collectors pieces are designed for visual appeal. Bevel also was active in the anti-war movement and greatly influenced King, who Bevel encouraged to confront the Vietnam War more directly. All rights reserved. This civil rights activist, minister, lyricist, and human rights advocate gained a national reputation for both his . Bevel was forced from his position in the SCLC after exhibiting erratic behaviour. It must have been even more painful to tell. [18] Bevel and Nash did not attend, and instead watched Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech on television. James L. Bevel, an adviser to the Rev. And being there for two years, I was saturated in the environment where family values and just you know, I grew up where there was a lot of talked about love and peace, and happiness, and family values. And my sisters and my brothers also, you know, because my brothers were also stood behind us 100 percent and said, you know we have to do something. Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305. He often wore overalls over a shirt and tie; he shaved his head and sometimes covered it with a yarmulke in honor of Old Testament prophets. All rights reserved (About Us). Hoping for him 'to repent'Bevel's daughter, Aaralyn Mills, testified about the conflicting feelings she has had as she pursued the case against her father, a man that she said she still loves and respects in many aspects. Credited by Martin Luther King with initiating the Children's Crusade during the Birmingham Campaign of 1963, James Bevel emerged as a civil rights leader from the ranks of the Nashville, Tennessee, student movement. James Bevel. He is awaiting sentence now. Credited by Martin Luther King with initiating the Childrens Crusade during the Birmingham Campaign of 1963, James Bevel emerged as a civil rights leader from the ranks of the Nashville, Tennessee, student movement. Mr. Bevel retired in 1993 after a career in the farm equipment industry that. James L. Bevel, 71, a key architect of the 1963 Children's Crusade in Birmingham, Ala., and other pivotal moments of the civil rights movement, was convicted earlier this year of a single count of incest. This defendant should die in jail.". This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Luther-Bevel, African American Registry - Biography of James Bevel, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Global Freedom Struggle - Biography of James Luther Bevel. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bevel, and was the Director of Direct Action, as well as the Director of Nonviolent Education of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The following day, when more students arrived at the church and started to walk to city hall, Eugene "Bull" Connor, City Commissioner of Public Safety, ordered that German Shepherd dogs and high-pressure fire hoses be used to stop them. On Saturday, she told The Associated Press she's still processing her "very complicated" feelings about his death. But first, we go behind Closed Doors, that's our weekly segment when we talk about painful issues. After the success of this action, and with the aid of SCLC's Ella Baker, activist students from Nashville and across the South developed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He was 58 years old and the first monarch to unite the crowns of Scotland and England. A top lieutenant to Martin Luther King Jr. has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for incest. Another daughter, Sherilynn Bevel, confirmed the death, The Washington Post reported. How old was James Bevel when he died? Ms. MILLS: The hardest part was learning of everyone's story. Though initially reluctant, Dr. King finally agreed. "It's fading, but I still have a strong feeling that my father was doing something, that he was working on some truth," said Mills, who agreed to be identified publicly. James Bevel (1936-2008) James Bevel was one of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most trusted advisors during the American Civil Rights campaigns of the mid-20th century. [40], In 1961, Bevel married activist Diane Nash after he completed his seminary studies. Ms. MILLS: Yeah, it was - it was like intervention, but for my father it was a meeting, it was a, you know, you present your case, I'll present my case. Wife Susan Jameson & Adopted Son Details. Bevel was a top lieutenant to Martin Luther King Jr. Those that suffer in similar or different ways need to know that they don't have to carry the burden of their trauma and pain for the rest of their lives. And when I left there, I began that process of deciding and designing how I wanted to live my life. The Rev. Bevel would not reveal the evidence, and Ray was convicted of the crime. And it reminded us that those feelings of being ashamed and alone can be magnified when the perpetrator is in a position of trust, highly regarded by the community, perhaps a family member. He was 72. The actor's assistant, Karen Lindsey, confirmed his death in a Facebook post, stating that he died of natural . James Bevel, 1936-2008. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home. [17] Activists encountered severe violence at that time and retreated to regroup. One week later, city leaders reached an accord with movement leaders. In the decades after King's death, Bevel aligned himself with fringe movements. She could not share it. [25], In 1989, Bevel and Abernathy organized the National Committee Against Religious Bigotry and Racism. How do you understand that? After a day of organizing workshops, the two men drove back to the Lorraine . [5] He suggested that SCLC call for and join a March on Washington in 1963. James Luther Bevel (born 1936) was a civil rights activist of the 1960s who aligned himself with Martin Luther King, Jr. James Luther Bevel was born in the farming community of Ittabena, Mississippi, on October 19, 1936. They divorced after seven years. This movement ended within a Summit Conference that included Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Bevel was later instrumental in organizing the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., an event that was credited with helping to usher in the Voting Rights Act (1965). He was 72. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Ms. MILLS: I mean we have to look at a lot of aspects of life, in those parallels. Yet when he died, disgraced after a conviction for incest in 2008 (the incident occurred in 1993, and Bevel said he was innocent), he was almost as unknown as he was in the 1960s. He attended workshops at the . . The demonstration was spurred largely by the killing of a young protester by an Alabama state trooper. He entered the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville in 1957 . He's been violent, mean and abusive, but he's always been honest.". It's barbaric, but hey, it's home. They also revealed that at least four other daughters Bevel had with various women have made similar allegations against him. James Bevel was one of the key strategists of the civil rights movement. [12] He was one of 17 children and grew up in rural LeFlore County of the Mississippi Delta and in Cleveland, Ohio.
