Cries for justice filled the room Wednesday night at Greater St. John AME Church in Biloxi, Mississippi as supporters rallied behind Nolan Wells’ family.
On what would have been the teen’s 19th birthday, his family chose to honor him with a prayer rally.
Hundreds packed the pews as various speakers remembered Wells, who disappeared on Horn Island on July 4. Authorities recovered his body two days later.
“As we celebrate what would have been his 19th birthday, I am reminded as a father of a 24-year-old son and the uncle of four nephews between the age of 20 and 24, how dangerous, precarious life can be for a young Black man in America,” President and CEO of the National Urban League Marc Morial said.
Condemning Hate
While demanding justice and transparency, speakers also condemned those who have been sending hate messages to Wells’ parents.
“It is so unfair to lose your child and be attacked just for asking for answers,” said the family’s attorney Ben Crump. “How is it wrong for them to want answers for what happened to their son?”
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has been very vocal about the hate mail she’s received. The Mississippi Board of Nursing also launched a professional misconduct investigation into her after receiving an anonymous complaint. The board quickly closed the investigation.
“Instead of asking whoever left her son on the island, the institutional Mississippi still muttering Kane’s excuse ‘It’s not my problem'”, said Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, who delivered special remarks.
“I wanted to come to Mississippi today from Georgia to let the system and to let the establishment know, let that be the last time you try to intimidate a Black mother,” he added.
A Transparent Investigation
Bryant also demanded that Mississippi authorities handle Wells’ case with the fairness and transparency it deserves.
“If it was five Black boys and one white boy on the boat, by now there would have been an arrest, there would have been a warrant,” Bryant said to the crowd’s cheers. “They trying to act offended because we asked the question, ‘What happened to our brother?'”
Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said she is conducting a thorough investigation into Wells’ death, according to a statement her office released Tuesday.
“I will present the Grand Jury with a thorough, complete, and fair investigation into the death
of Nolan Wells,” McIlrath said.
In the meantime, the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to federal authorities urging the U.S. Department of Justice to help investigate Wells’ death.
Authorities had seven days to respond to the letter. Atlanta Black Star reached out to the CBC to determine whether it has received a response and is awaiting a reply.
‘I Miss You’
Wednesday night’s prayer vigil ended with Wells’ parents speaking on their son and what they will cherish and miss most about him.
“This morning I had to fight the urge to Facetime you and sing my off-tune Happy Birthday song,” Christine Wonsley said. “I miss the warmth of your hugs, I miss hearing you say ‘I love you mom’, I miss everything about you.”
The crowd filled the room with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” as Elmore and Christine Wonsley blew out the candles on the cake.
Attorney Ben Crump could not let the night end without one final chant. “Say his name,” he yelled.
“Nolan Wells,” the crowd emphatically responded.
