Alabama trooper who killed Jimmie Lee Jackson in 1965 spurring on "Bloody Sunday", family says they want no part of Selma

Story by AL.com
Written by Leada Gore
Photo left of James Fowler (AP photo)

The former state trooper who killed Jimmie Lee Jackson in 1965 - setting off the wave of protests that led to the Voting Rights Act - is still living in Alabama but suffers from dementia, the New York Daily News reports.

James Bonard Fowler was a corporal with the Alabama State Police in 1965 when he killed Jackson, who was unarmed.

That event led to a series of marches, including what's become known as "Bloody Sunday," when troopers attacked protestors on Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge. The 50th anniversary of those marches was commemorated this past weekend in the small Dallas County town.

Fowler, now 81, lives in the small town of Black in Geneva County.

His daughter told the New York Daily News her father is deathly ill and "wants nothing to do with all that stuff going on," in Selma. Fowler's daughter, who did not identify herself to the newspaper, said her father is immobile and suffers from dementia.

She maintains she would defend her father if anyone tried to cause problems with her family.

"He's not able now if a bunch of 'em come down in here trying to get back at him or whatever, for something that happened all those years ago. If a bunch of 'em come on my yard, I'm gonna throw down. I'm gonna defend my damn self."

Fowler shot Jackson on the night of Feb. 18, 1965 after a group went to the Perry County Jail to protest the arrest of a civil rights worker. Police began clubbing the protestors and Jackson, his mother and grandfather, rushed to a café, where the beatings continued. Jackson was shot while coming to his mother's aid. He died eight days later, setting turning national attention to the growing violence in the South.

Fowler maintained he fired in self defense and no charges were filed in the case until 2007.

Fowler later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges and was sentenced to six months in jail. At the time, Fowler expressed remorse for his actions.

He was released from prison after five months due to health issues.

Read more:
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/alabama_trooper_who_killed_jim.html
http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/07/former_alabama_state_trooper_j.html