May 1970 was a time of racial unrest on some college campuses. Fifty-one years ago this week, two African-American men were killed and at least a dozen other people were injured after law enforcement officers, dressed in full riot gear, fired shots into a crowd of students at then Jackson State College. It's not clear why officers came to campus, but gunfire that lasted nearly 30 seconds led to the deaths of 21-year old Phillip Gibbs and 17-year old James Earl Green.
"I can forgive, but I'll never forget that night... never," said James "Lap" Baker.
A native of Picayune, he was a graduating senior at the time of the shooting. He says he happened to be on campus, standing near where Green was shot and killed.
"I was crawling and pulling grass to try to get out from the fire that was going over my head and everybody else's head," said Baker. "And all you could hear were students hollering."
University officials decided to cancel remaining events on campus including graduation and mailed graduating seniors their degrees. Tomorrow, more than 70 members of the class are expected to march across the Gibbs-Green plaza, in cap and gown, for the first time.
"I'm just thrilled that I will be able to see some of the classmates who I hadn't seen in nearly fifty years," said Baker. " It would bring back memories to me because we used to have a lot of fun for four years. That's how close we were."
The university will also award honorary doctorate degrees to Phillip Gibbs and James Earl Green. Their families will be in attendance to receive them.
