Hezekiah Watkins, a civil rights veteran and the youngest Freedom Rider, celebrated his 69th birthday Tuesday at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson. A crowd of visitors and staff gathered in the museum’s center gallery to honor his contributions, with Watkins recounting his journey as an activist.
Watkins, born in Milwaukee and raised in Jackson, became involved in the civil rights movement at age 13. In 1961, despite warnings from family and community, he watched the Freedom Riders demonstrate at a Jackson bus station. His curiosity led police to arrest him after he falsely claimed to be from Milwaukee, mistakenly believing he was an out-of-state activist.
He was detained on death row at Parchman Prison, where he faced severe abuse. Watkins later learned that Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy had sent attorneys to check on the riders’ conditions. President John F. Kennedy reportedly called Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett about Watkins’ detention, prompting the governor to order his release to Jackson police. His mother was overwhelmed with emotion during their reunion.
Watkins eventually became a prominent figure in the movement, participating in the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project in 1964 and being arrested more than 100 times. Now working at the Two Mississippi Museums, he shares his story and has authored an autobiography published in 2019. He returned to Parchman in 2023 for the unveiling of a historic marker honoring civil rights efforts.
In 2026, Watkins received an official apology from the city of Jackson and had a street named after him. During Tuesday’s event, he urged attendees to vote and emphasized the importance of involvement regardless of age. After his remarks, the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to him, celebrating his enduring legacy.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
