After Emmett Till's death, Mamie Till Mobley, his mother, made a decision to hold a public, open casket funeral for her son. Approximately 50,000 people came to the funeral, and approximately 100,000 came over a four day period of time to view the casket. She also allowed photos to be published in Jet Magazine, which were published with an article about Emmett Till's death on September 15, 1955, and in the Chicago Defender. Emmett Till's death was also reported in international media. Mamie Till Mobley was asked go on tour to speak publicly about her son's death at NAACP chapters around the nation. Her rallies helped increase membership in the NAACP. Prominent leaders in the Civil Rights movement impacted by Emmett Till's death included Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lewis.
Watch footage of Emmett Till's funeral from PBS: American Experience
