Emmett Till, a sweet-faced kid brutally murdered for being black (Image via historical family photo)

Carolyn Bryant, the woman whose claims led to the murder of Emmett Till and “catalyzed the 20th century civil rights movement,” is still alive (she's 82), hidden from view ... and apparently recanted her testimony nearly 10 years ago.

When she asserted that the 14-year-old black teen visiting Mississippi from Chicago had physically grabbed her and told her he had — done something — with white women before, shocking charges in the South 50 years ago, she was lying. This lie, and the now-shaky claim that Till (who had a lisp) had wolf-whistled her, led to Bryant's husband and brother-in-law abducting and murdering Till three days later, a crime for which they were hastily acquitted. The men were later paid $3,000 to admit to the slaying for a mass-market magazine's audience's entertainment.

Now, Bryant — the only principal still alive — is reported to have “tender sorrow” for Till's mother, who spent the rest of her life fighting for racial justice.

Bryant (not her name anymore; she remarried twice after her murderer husband) is reported to now think white supremacy in the South was wrong, but she is not making herself available as any kind of a public symbol of reconciliation — which is a shame.

She has written her memoirs, though ... and they'll be available in 2036, when it's too late.

62 years after claiming Emmett Till whistled at her, woman now admits she made it all up. She should be prosecuted.https://t.co/RpjGZsi3wg

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) January 27, 2017

Activist Shaun King is calling for her prosecution, which reminds me of Nazi-hunting and will probably engender the same types of responses: “Yes, of course, she must pay for her crime,” vs., “Aw, she's an old lady, let the past be the past.”

If you've ever seen the infamous image of Till's destroyed face (reproduced below in a vintage newspaper), you may think twice about having any tender sorrow for Bryant, however hopeful it is to hear that her opinions have changed ...

(Image via San Antonio Express)