Editing Medgar Evers (section)

==Legacy==
[[File:Headstone of Medgar Evers.jpg|thumb|Grave at [[Arlington National Cemetery]]]]
Evers was memorialized by leading Mississippi and national authors [[James Baldwin]], [[Margaret Walker]], [[Eudora Welty]], and [[Anne Moody]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://southernspaces.org/2008/mourning-medgar-justice-aesthetics-and-local |doi=10.18737/M79W22 |title=Mourning Medgar: Justice, Aesthetics, and the Local |year=2008 |last1=Gwin |first1=Minrose |journal=Southern Spaces |doi-access=free |access-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728043858/http://southernspaces.org/2008/mourning-medgar-justice-aesthetics-and-local |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1963, Evers was posthumously awarded the [[Spingarn Medal]] by the NAACP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal-winners |title=NAACP Spingarn Medal |publisher=Naacp.org |access-date=June 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802063355/http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal-winners |archive-date=August 2, 2014 }}</ref> In 1969, [[Medgar Evers College]] was established in [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, New York]], as part of the [[City University of New York]].

Evers' widow, Myrlie Evers, co-wrote the 1967 book ''For Us, the Living'' with William Peters. In 1983, [[For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story|a television movie was made]] based on the book. Celebrating Evers's life and career, it starred [[Howard Rollins|Howard Rollins Jr.]] and [[Irene Cara]] as Medgar and Myrlie Evers, airing on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]. The film won the [[Writers Guild of America]] award for Best Adapted Drama.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/v62616 |title= For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story |publisher= www.allrovi.com |access-date= September 12, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120717222233/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/v62616 |archive-date= July 17, 2012 }}</ref>

In 1969, a community pool in the [[Central District, Seattle|Central District]] neighborhood of [[Seattle]], Washington, was named after Evers, honoring his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seattle.gov/parks/history/EversPool.pdf|title=Seattle Parks and Recreation History of Medgar Evers pool|website=Seattle Parks and Recreation History|access-date=July 13, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316232404/http://www.seattle.gov/parks/history/EversPool.pdf|archive-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>

On June 28, 1992, the city of Jackson, Mississippi, erected a statue in honor of Evers. All of Delta Drive (part of U.S. Highway 49) in Jackson was renamed in his honor. In December 2004, the Jackson City Council changed the name of the city's airport to [[Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport]] in Evers' honor.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jmaa.com/JAN/default.htm |title= Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport |publisher= Jackson Municipal Airport Authority |year= 2013 |access-date= January 22, 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121104065802/http://www.jmaa.com/JAN/default.htm |archive-date= November 4, 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Statue of Medgar Evers.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Evers at the Medgar Evers Boulevard Library in [[Jackson, Mississippi]]]]

Evers' widow, Myrlie Evers, became a noted activist in her own right, eventually serving as national chairperson of the NAACP.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ND0DAAAAMBAJ&q=myrlie+evers+naacp&pg=PA36 |title=NAACP Chairwoman Myrlie Evers-Williams Will Not Seek Re-Election |journal=Jet |date=March 2, 1998 |access-date=June 13, 2013 |archive-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620023532/https://books.google.com/books?id=ND0DAAAAMBAJ&q=myrlie+evers+naacp&pg=PA36 |url-status=live }}</ref> Myrlie also founded the Medgar Evers Institute in 1998, with the initial goal of preserving and advancing the legacy of her husband's life's work. Anticipating the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Medgar Evers and recognizing the international leadership role of Myrlie Evers, the Institute's board of directors changed the organization's name to the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute.

Evers' brother, [[Charles Evers]], returned to Jackson in July 1963, and served briefly with the NAACP in his brother's place. Charles remained involved in Mississippi civil rights activities for many years, and in 1969, was the first African-American mayor elected in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_people_evers.html |title=Charles Evers's biography, PBS |publisher=Pbs.org |access-date=June 13, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020045858/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_people_evers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He died on July 22, 2020, at the age of 97, in nearby [[Brandon, Mississippi|Brandon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/us/charles-evers-dead.html|title=Charles Evers, Businessman and Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 97|first=Robert D.|last=McFadden|date=July 22, 2020|access-date=July 22, 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722213709/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/us/charles-evers-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the 40th anniversary of Evers' assassination, hundreds of civil rights veterans, government officials, and students from across the country gathered around his grave site at Arlington National Cemetery to celebrate his life and legacy. Barry Bradford and three students—Sharmistha Dev, Jajah Wu, and Debra Siegel, formerly of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in [[Lincolnshire, Illinois]]—planned and hosted the commemoration in his honor.<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mwevers.htm "Medgar Evers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202101531/http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mwevers.htm |date=February 2, 2012 }}, Arlingon Cemetery. Note: Bradford later was notable for his work in helping reopen the [[Mississippi Burning]] and [[Clyde Kennard]] cases.</ref> Evers was the subject of the students' research project.<ref>Lottie L. Joiner (July 2003), "The nation remembers Medgar Evers", ''The Crisis'', 110(4), 8. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from Research Library Core.</ref>

In October 2009, [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Navy Secretary]] [[Ray Mabus]], a former [[Mississippi]] [[governor]], announced that {{USNS|Medgar Evers|T-AKE-13}}, a {{Sclass|Lewis and Clark|dry cargo ship}}, would be named in the activist's honor.<ref>[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/The-Navy-Honors-a-Civil-Rights-Pioneer Mabus, Ray, "The Navy Honors a Civil Rights Pioneer."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012232932/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-Navy-Honors-a-Civil-Rights-Pioneer/ |date=October 12, 2009 }} The White House Blog. October 9, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2010.</ref> The ship was christened by Myrlie Evers-Williams on November 12, 2011.<ref>"A Memorial for Medgar", ''San Diego Union-Tribune'', November 13, 2011.</ref>

In June 2013, a statue of Evers was erected at his alma mater, Alcorn State University, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Evers' death.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-race-evers-idUSBRE95B19020130612 |title =Mississippi marks 50th anniversary of Medgar Evers' death |author =Therese Apel |publisher =reuters.com |date =June 12, 2013 |access-date =July 1, 2017 |archive-date =September 24, 2015 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924182053/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/12/us-usa-race-evers-idUSBRE95B19020130612 |url-status =live }}</ref> Alumni and guests from around the world gathered to recognize his contributions to American society.

Evers was also honored in a tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on the 50th anniversary of his death.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/memorial-service-for-medgar-evers-held-at-arlington-national-cemetery/2013/06/05/2044c2ea-cd55-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html |title =Memorial service for Medgar Evers held at Arlington National Cemetery |author =Krissah Thompson |work =washingtonpost.com |date =June 5, 2013 |url-status =live |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130711004108/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-06-05/local/39761664_1_medgar-evers-myrlie-evers-williams-civil-rights-movement |archive-date =July 11, 2013 }}</ref> Former President [[Bill Clinton]], Attorney General [[Eric Holder]], Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Senator [[Roger Wicker]], and NAACP President [[Benjamin Jealous]] all spoke commemorating Evers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/us/paying-tribute-to-a-seeker-of-justice-50-years-after-his-assassination.html |title=Paying Tribute to a Seeker of Justice, 50 Years After His Assassination |author=Ashley Southall |newspaper=nytimes.com |date=June 5, 2013 |access-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-date=December 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224191253/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/us/paying-tribute-to-a-seeker-of-justice-50-years-after-his-assassination.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =http://bigstory.ap.org/article/medgar-evers-remembered-pioneer-civil-rights | title =HOLDER PRAISES SLAIN BLACK ACTIVIST MEDGAR EVERS | agency =Valerie Bonk | author =Associated Press | publisher =bigstory.ap.org | date =June 5, 2013 | author-link =Associated Press | access-date =June 24, 2013 | archive-date =June 11, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130611085622/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/medgar-evers-remembered-pioneer-civil-rights | url-status =live }}</ref> Evers's widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams, spoke of his contributions to the advancement of civil rights:<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/D0/20130605/NEWS03/130605029/Medgar-Evers-honored-Arlington-National-Cemetery | title=Medgar Evers honored at Arlington National Cemetery | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=The Clarion-Ledger | date=June 5, 2013 | access-date=June 24, 2013 | archive-date=June 24, 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624232958/http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/D0/20130605/NEWS03/130605029/Medgar-Evers-honored-Arlington-National-Cemetery | url-status=live }}</ref>

<blockquote>Medgar was a man who never wanted adoration, who never wanted to be in the limelight. He was a man who saw a job that needed to be done and he answered the call and the fight for freedom, dignity and justice not just for his people but all people.</blockquote>

Evers was identified as a Freedom hero by [[The My Hero Project]].<ref name="My Hero" />

In 2017, the [[Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument|Medgar and Myrlie Evers House]] was named as a [[National Historic Landmark]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-24-new-national-historic-landmarks |title=Interior Department Announces 24 New National Historic Landmarks &#124; U.S. Department of the Interior |publisher=Doi.gov |date=January 11, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113124854/https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-24-new-national-historic-landmarks |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, the site was designated a [[List of national monuments of the United States|National Monument]].

The [[Route 3 Bridge (Hackensack River)|Route 3 Bridge]] over the [[Hackensack River]] is dedicated to Evers.

In 2024, Evers was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/03/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-2/|publisher=The White House|title=President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom|date=May 3, 2024|access-date=May 3, 2024}}</ref>

In 2025, as part of a series of [[anti-DEI deletions by the U.S. Department of Defense]], a profile of Evers was deleted from the Arlington cemetery website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Jerry |date=2025-03-17 |title=WWII vet Medgar Evers erased from Arlington cemetery website |url=https://mississippitoday.org/2025/03/17/wwii-vet-medgar-evers-erased-from-arlington-cemetery-website/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Mississippi Today |language=en-US}}</ref>