35TH ANNIVERSARY OF MURDER OF CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS
The district attorney in Philadelphia, Mississippi is trying to reopen the Ku Klux Klan killings of the three civil rights workers that took place nearly 35 years ago.
Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Channey were killed on June 21, 1964. In 1967, a jury convicted seven men of federal conspiracy charges. Seven other defendants were acquitted; three had mistrials. No one was ever tried for murder.
If you're planning stories on the 35th anniversary of the killings or the possibility of the defendants being charged for murder, you may wish to speak with Charles Sallis, professor of history at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Sallis' expertise is in Mississippi history, the Civil Rights movement and Southern history. He has been following this case.
Dr. Sallis believes reopening this case could help eliminate a "black mark against Mississippi." He also notes that one of the great signs of progress in the state is how the regional newspapers have changed their stances on this case and other high-profile cases over the past 35 years. He notes that the regional papers today are calling for justice. That wasn't the case 35 years ago when many papers in the state thought the civil rights workers' disappearance was a hoax.
There are several precedents in Mississippi for reopening the case. In 1994, white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a murder hecommitted 30 years earlier. In addition, former Imperial Wizard Sam Bowers was successfully prosecuted last year for the Klan's 1966 murder of NAACP leader Vernon Dahmer.
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Editors & Producers: I thought this might be an issue for you to examine. The DA of Philadelphia, Mississippi is Ken Turner. If you're interested in speaking with Sallis, he's at 601-974-1290 (office). His e-mail address is [email protected] Please contact Steve Infanti of Dick Jones Communications at 814-867-1963 or [email protected] if you need any assistance.
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