Walter Bailey Honored for Civil Rights Work During Unveiling of Ida B. Wells Statue - Articles

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Posted by: Kate Prince on Jul 19, 2021

Longtime Memphis attorney and former Shelby County commissioner, Walter L. Bailey Jr., was honored last week for his work and passion for civil rights, the Commercial Appeal reports. Bailey and several others were honored with Impact Awards from the Memphis Memorial Committee during a ceremony for the unveiling of a new statue of Ida B. Wells on Beale Street. The awards are given to those who shared Wells’ passion for racial justice and equality. Bailey took Tennessee v. Garner to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1974, resulting in a ruling that made it illegal for police to shoot a fleeing suspect who posed no imminent danger. The former Shelby County Jail was renamed the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Complex in his honor.