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Mother of hate victim airsgrief

Cougar News Services

On June 7, 1998, Stella Byrd lost her son when he was tied to the back of a pickup truck with a chain and dragged at high speed for several miles. He was killed because he was black. His name was James Byrd, Jr. and he has since been immortalized with hate-crime legislation.

The media circus surrounding the death exacerbated Stella Byrdis grief at the time. She pulled away from reporters and cameras for four years. Today, she breaks the silence, a HoustonPBS press release said.

In the exclusive interview by Ernie Manouse, Stella Byrd will set the record straight about her sonis story and dispel the myths that were perpetuated by the media coverage of the case, the press release said.

"This was a difficult conversation for Stella, but one she felt compelled o do to provide a complete portrait of her son, their family and how the media crush had a tremendous impact on her life and the life of everyone in Jasper," Manouse said in the press release. 

"There are times when it was clear she struggled to talk about what happened four years ago. But she speaks openly, and often emotionally about her family, her town and the media," Manouse said.

Stella will also discuss her crusade for hate crime legislation in Texas and about the "fame" that has come to her name and to Jasper, the press release said.

"I stayed in denial for about two years. I still didnit believe it really did happen. I just looked at that door, looking for him to come in," Stella Byrd said in the press release. "Gradually, I had to come to reality that he was really gone. But the public never lets you forget it."

The interview, entitled, "A Motheris Account: The Stella Byrd Interview," airs at 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. tonight on Channel 8 (KUHT-TV). 

Also airing in conjunction with the interview is PBSis "P.O.V.: ‘The Two Towns of Jasper,i" a documentary special focusing on Jasperis response to the crime. It airs tonight at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
 

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