Herbert Lee | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1912 Liberty, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 1961 (aged 49) Liberty, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Dairy and cotton farmer |
| Known for | Murder victim during civil rights movement |
Herbert Lee (January 1, 1912 – September 25, 1961) was an American civil rights activist in Mississippi remembered as a proponent of voting rights for African Americans in that state, who had been disenfranchised since 1890. He was a charter member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Amite County and sought to enfranchise African-Americans by encouraging voter registration.
In 1961, Lee assisted Bob Moses in his efforts to persuade locals to register. His activities were met with threats of reprisal by the white community, and Lee became one of the movement's earliest victims to white violence. He was murdered by Mississippi state representative E. H. Hurst in broad daylight at a cotton gin while delivering cotton near Liberty.