jun 12, 1959 - Betty Jean Owens
Description:
Owens, an African American college student, was kidnapped and gang raped by four white men; Joe D Cooke, an intern police officer, defied racial conventions and agreed to look for the white assailants when Owens came in to report the crime the same night. In 1959, she testified against her attackers and the jury returned a guilty verdict with a recommendation for mercy, a bittersweet victory.Added to timeline:
Date:
jun 12, 1959
Now
~ 66 years ago