The United States Senate unanimously passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act this Wednesday.  The bill would provide millions of dollars to develop a cold cases unit within the Justice Department to investigate unpunished civil rights crimes that happened before 1970. The money would also help local law enforcement officials conduct these examinations of killings that happened in the civil rights era.

Senator Thad Cochran was a co-sponsor of this bill in 2005 when it originated.  He has praised its passage and hopes that President Bush will sign the legislation into law.  The President is expected to sign it.

“Justice has been delayed, but it should not be denied,” Cochran said. “We are nearing a time, half a century after many of these crimes were committed, when witnesses who are able to provide testimony will no longer be available.”

To find out more about the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act, click here to read an article in the Clarion-Ledger.