Lamar Smith (activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lamar Smith
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Lamar Smith
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| Born | 1892 |
| Died | August 13, 1955 (aged 63 years old) |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Civil rights activist; farmer; military veteran |
| Known for | Mississippi voter registration; Regional Counsel of Negro Leadership (RCNL) |
Lamar "Ditney" Smith (1892 – August 13, 1955) was an American civil rights figure, African-American farmer, World War I veteran and an organizer of black voter registration. In 1955, he was killed in broad daylight around 10 a.m. at close range on the lawn of the Lincoln County courthouse in Brookhaven, Mississippi.
Details
Lamar Smith, a 63-year-old farmer and World War I veteran, was a voting rights activist and a member of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (RCNL). On August 2, he voted in the primary and helped get others out to vote. There was a run-off primary scheduled for August 23. On August 13, Smith was at the courthouse helping other black voters to fill out absentee ballots so they could vote in the runoff without exposing themselves to violence at the polls. He was killed in front of the courthouse in Brookhaven, Lincoln County, at around 10 a.m.
