Whatever happened to Billy Ray Johnson? He used to be a familiar face around town: the middle-aged and mentally challenged black man who was always walking the back roads of Linden.
On a September night in 2003, he was picked up and driven to a pasture party where four young white men gave him beer and told him to dance. They laughed and called him a nigger. Then one of them beat Billy Ray into unconsciousness. Afterward, his body was dumped on the side of a country road.
Johnson nearly died.
The collective shoulder shrug of Linden’s residents drew national outrage. “Old South racism lives in Texas town,” read one headline in the Chicago Tribune.
High-powered civil rights lawyer Morris Dees took up Johnson’s case, and in April 2007, a civil jury awarded a $9 million verdict. “After the case was over, they sat in the jury box and talked about how it had changed the community and the whole region,” Dees said in a recent phone interview.
“They felt the attention brought on the case by the news media was making their town look bad, but when they saw the facts brought out, they showed the nation they weren’t racially biased or bigoted and they could do justice.”
With the trial’s conclusion, the media glare turned elsewhere, and life as usual returned to most of Linden’s 2,100 residents. But Johnson’s story didn’t end there. The fight for his money was only beginning.
9,767 responses to “The ballad of Billy Ray”
I?m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
You made some good points there. I looked on the web for more info about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It will always be exciting to read articles from other authors and practice a little something from other sites.
Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I will send this article to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a great read. Thanks for sharing!
I?m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that?s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the issue is one thing that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very joyful that I stumbled across this in my seek for something regarding this.
After looking at a handful of the blog articles on your site, I honestly appreciate your technique of blogging. I added it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and tell me what you think.
Hiya! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My website looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to fix this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share. Appreciate it!
I truly love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you make this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my very own website and want to learn where you got this from or what the theme is called. Thanks!
Great site you have got here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Anyswap
SpookySwap app
AI Trading Bot Crypto trading bot ai crypto trading bot
ParaSwap
Mantle Bridge
Uniswap
Uniswap
You’re so interesting! I don’t believe I have read through a single thing like that before. So wonderful to find someone with genuine thoughts on this issue. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the web, someone with some originality.
ParaSwap
After going over a few of the blog posts on your web page, I seriously appreciate your way of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my web site too and let me know how you feel.
High Liquidity Crypto Exchange Reviews
SpookySwap
Best Exchange for Token Listings
This actually answered my downside, thanks!
Spooky Swap
I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please permit me recognise in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Hyperliquid
Top Crypto Bridges Reviews
I blog often and I really appreciate your content. The article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new details about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
AI Trading Bot Crypto trading bot ai crypto trading bot
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing problems with your RSS. I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody having identical RSS problems? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!
AI Trading Bot Crypto trading bot ai crypto trading bot
SpookySwap
Mantle Bridge
Audio started playing anytime I opened up this web page, so annoying!
Thanks for the tips on credit repair on all of this web-site. Things i would tell people will be to give up this mentality that they can buy at this moment and pay back later. Like a society we all tend to do that for many factors. This includes vacations, furniture, and items we really want to have. However, you need to separate the wants from the needs. When you’re working to fix your credit score you have to make some sacrifices. For example you can shop online to save money or you can look at second hand outlets instead of high priced department stores pertaining to clothing.
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who had been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this subject here on your website.
What i do not understood is in reality how you’re now not actually much more neatly-liked than you might be now. You are so intelligent. You realize thus considerably in the case of this subject, made me individually consider it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested unless it’s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs great. Always handle it up!|
You can certainly see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Very good post. I will be experiencing a few of these issues as well..
Have you ever thought about creating an ebook or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
I absolutely love your site.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you build this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own website and would like to find out where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Thanks!
We stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking into your web page for a second time.|
Thanks for thr great article!
Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, fantastic site!
whoah this blog is fantastic i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are looking around for this information, you could help them greatly.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?
Wonderful article! We are linking to this particularly great post on our website. Keep up the great writing.
I liked up to you’ll receive carried out right here. The comic strip is attractive, your authored material stylish. however, you command get bought an impatience over that you would like be turning in the following. in poor health no doubt come further formerly again as exactly the similar nearly a lot regularly inside case you defend this hike.
Hello! I just want to offer you a huge thumbs up for the great information you have got here on this post. I will be returning to your website for more soon.
After going over a few of the blog posts on your web site, I really like your technique of blogging. I saved it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my web site as well and let me know how you feel.