Reverend James Reeb

This plaque was placed at the approximate location of the white supremacist attack that killed Reeb.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Civil Rights activist that was murdered by segregationist. His death was one of many that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Place of Birth:

Wichita, Kansas

Date of Birth:

January 1, 1927

Place of Death:

Birmingham, Alabama

Date of Death:

March 11, 1965

Place of Burial:

Cremated

Cemetery Name:

Per his wishes, he was cremated with his ashes blown over the Wyoming Prairie.

James Reeb was a dedicated Unitarian Universalist minister and civil rights activist whose life was tragically cut short by violence during the American Civil Rights Movement. Born on January 1, 1927, in Wichita, Kansas, Reeb was deeply influenced by his commitment to social justice and his faith. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he pursued higher education and became a minister, eventually focusing his efforts on civil rights issues.

Rev. Reeb was known for his work with the American Friends Service Committee and was raising his four children with his wife in Boston. Like many Americans, Reeb was incensed by the Bloody Sunday attacks, and answered the call sent out by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for clergy to come to Selma. He participated in the march known as Turnaround Tuesday on March 9, 1965. Afterwards, Reeb and fellow ministers Orloff Miller and Clark Olsen went to Walker’s Cafe for dinner and were planning to walk to Brown Chapel AME for a mass meeting.

Miller, Olsen, and Reeb were attacked near the Silver Moon Cafe by several men who recognized they weren’t from the area. Reeb received the worst of the attack, getting hit in the head with a blunt object and knocked to the ground. Miller and Olsen were able to get Reeb to safety, but the damage had been done. The force of the blow to Reeb’s head was so severe that he went into a coma and died two days later.  He was 38.

The death of a white clergyman shocked a nation that was already reeling from the images of Bloody Sunday. Reeb’s death was the second of three high-profile murders in relation to the Selma to Montgomery marches. Later, despite eyewitness testimony from Miller and Olsen, Reeb’s alleged murderers never faced justice, being found not guilty by an all-white male jury.

Reeb's murder became a significant catalyst for national outrage and drew support for the civil rights movement. His death drew widespread attention to the brutal realities of racial injustice and contributed to the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The legislation aimed to eliminate barriers to voting and ensure that African Americans could exercise their right to vote without intimidation or discrimination.

James Reeb's legacy lives on as a symbol of the sacrifices made by many in the struggle for civil rights. His life and death are remembered for their impact on advancing civil rights and fostering greater awareness and change in the fight against racial inequality.