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“RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHANEY, GOODMAN, AND SCHWERNER KILLINGS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1180-E1181 on June 18, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHANEY, GOODMAN, AND SCHWERNER
KILLINGS
______
HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 18, 2004
Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, forty years ago this Sunday, members of the Ku Klux Klan committed a terrible crime against three young men in Neshoba County. It was a crime against them, a crime against equality, and a crime against freedom. As we remember the killings of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner during the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi, I'd like to take the opportunity to share with you the statements of that community today in 2004. These statements represent a call by community leaders; a tri-racial commission of blacks, whites, and Choctaws; and city and county elected officials to seek justice and forgiveness for these crimes of the past. Like the rest of the country, Mississippi still has much work to do concerning racial reconciliation, but I believe we have come further and are more committed to racial harmony than many other states. But I will let this Neshoba County community speak for itself:
First is the Philadelphia Coalition's Resolution for Justice. This tri-racial coalition led by Leroy Clemons and James E. Prince III is leading the call for justice in this community, and organizing the events affiliated with the 40th Anniversary Memorial this weekend.
The Philadelphia Coalition's Resolution for Justice: Statement Asking for Justice in the June 21, 1964 Murders of James Chaney, Andrew
Goodman and Michael Schwerner
Forty years ago, on June 21, 1964, three young men, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, were murdered in Neshoba County by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
The state of Mississippi has never brought criminal indictments against anyone for these murders--an act of omission of historic significance. There is, for good and obvious reasons, no statute of limitations on murder. This principle of law holds that anyone who takes the life of another person for any reason not provided by law is never immune from prosecution, no matter how remote in time.
With firm resolve and strong belief in the rule of law, we call on the Neshoba County District Attorney, the state Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to make every effort to seek justice in this case. We deplore the possibility that history will record that the state of Mississippi, and this community in particular, did not make a good faith effort to do its duty.
We state candidly and with deep regret that some of our own citizens, including local and state law enforcement officers, were involved in the planning and execution of these murders. We are also cognizant of the shameful involvement and interference of state government, including actions of the State Sovereignty Commission, in thwarting justice in this case.
Finally, we wish to say to the families of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, that we are profoundly sorry for what was done in this community to your loved ones. And we are mindful of our responsibility as citizens to call on the authorities to make an effort to work for justice in this case. Continued failure to do so will only further compound the wrong.
We, the undersigned, call on those in authority to use every available resource and do all things necessary to bring about a just resolution to this case.
The Philadelphia Coalition.
Next comes the resolution by the Neshoba County Board of Supervisors, the elected leadership of this community on the county level.
Neshoba County Board of Supervisors' Resolution
Forty years ago, on June 21, 1964, three young men, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, were murdered in Neshoba County.
The State of Mississippi has never brought criminal indictments against anybody for these murders. There is for good and obvious reason, no statute of limitations on murder.
This principal of law holds that anyone who takes the life of another person for any reason not provided by law is never immune from prosecution, no matter how remote the time.
With firm resolve and strong belief in the rule of law, we call on the appropriate authorities to make every effort to seek justice in this case.
We regret that history will record that the authorities did not make a good faith effort to do its duty and we call on the people in authority to make an effort to seek justice in this case.
Finally, we wish to say to the families of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner that we regret what was done in this community to your loved ones.
We, the undersigned, call on those in authority to use every available resource and do all things necessary to bring about a just resolution to this case.
By: James Young, President, Neshoba County Board of Supervisors.
The leadership of the City of Philadelphia, the county seat and population center of Neshoba County, has also passed a resolution in support of this seeking of justice.
City of Philadelphia's Resolution: Resolution Asking for Justice in the
June 21, 1964 Murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael
Schwerner
Forty years ago, on June 21, 1964, three young men, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, were murdered in Neshoba County.
The State of Mississippi has never brought criminal indictments against anybody for these murders. There is for good and obvious reasons, no statute of limitations on murder. This principal of law holds that anyone who takes the life of another person for any reason not provided by law is never immune from prosecution, no matter how remote the time.
With firm resolve and strong belief in the rule of law, we call on the appropriate authorities to make every effort to seek justice in this case. We regret that history will record that the authorities did not make a good faith effort to do its duty and we call on the people in authority to make an effort to seek justice in this case.
Finally, we wish to say to the families of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner that we regret what was done in this community to your loved ones.
We, the undersigned, call on those in authority to use every available resource and do all things necessary to bring about a just resolution to this case.
By: Rayburn Waddell, Mayor; Janice Payne, Alderwoman at Large; Joe Tullos, Alderman, Ward I; Roy White, Alderman, Ward 2; Ronnie Jenkins, Alderman, Ward 3; and, Bobbie Jackson, Alderwoman, Ward 4.
The Community Development Partnership is Neshoba County and Philadelphia's chief economic development organization and represents the interests of many businesses, financial institutions and companies in the region.
Community Development Partnership's Resolution
Resolution Asking for Justice in the June 21, 1964 Murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner.
Forty years ago, on June 21, 1964, three young men, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, were murdered in Neshoba County.
The State of Mississippi has never brought criminal indictments against anybody for these murders. There is, for good and obvious reasons, no statute of limitations on murder. This principle of law holds that anyone who takes the life of another person for any reason not provided by law is never immune from prosecution, no matter how remote the time.
With firm resolve and strong belief in the rule of law, we call on the appropriate authorities to make every effort to seek justice in this case. We regret that history will record that the authorities did not make a good faith effort to do their duty and we call on the people in authority to make an effort to see justice in this case.
Finally, we wish to say to the families of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner that we regret what was done in this community to your loved ones. We the undersigned, call on those in authority to use every available resource and do all things necessary to bring about a just resolution to this case.
By: Brenda Mills, Chairwoman of the Board; and David Vowell, President.
This Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians have long represented an integral part of this community and has created a model of economic and community revitalization and development. Today they have moved from poverty to prosperity and are an integrated part of both the community and this call for justice.
Letter From the Tribe of Mississippi Choctaw Indians
Dear Friends and Neighbors: Forty years ago, three communities, white, black, and Choctaw, lived in Neshoba County separated by fear, ignorance, and bigotry.
Although all of us were Neshoba Countians, Mississippians, and Americans, living together in a relatively small geographic region, we lived apart in our separate communities seeking protection and self-preservation among our own kind. Mainly what we knew of one another was to be wary. Being a small community many of us did interact and often positively, but mutual respect, honor, and acceptance were indeed not commonalities shared between us.
Being forced apart, we were often denied the opportunity to learn from one another's differences and to gain from each other's strengths. Forty years ago, three young men who ignored the walls of separation between our communities were sacrificed to the fears and hatreds that long simmered throughout our country. Forever since, Neshoba County has been associated with an act of infamy. However, those three that we lost, live among us today.
While it is right to mourn them, we honor them more when we celebrate their lives for the positive changes they provided to all of us.
Today white, black, and Choctaw still live together in Neshoba County. We also work together, transact business together, learn together, worship together and play together.
While we have not eliminated fear, ignorance, or bigotry, we have surpassed those constraints and are prospering together.
While we continue to maintain our separate communities, we do so now not to, but because we choose to in order to preserve our unique cultural identities.
Now, forty years later, we come together with ease, and as equals not just to remember the trauma of the past, but more importantly, to admire our present, and plan our future together. All of our communities have changed for the better, we have an economy that is flourishing, our people are working and prospering, with the Tribe alone providing more than 9,000 jobs. When we work together and support one another, good things happen.
On behalf of The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, I commend Philadelphia Coalition for its efforts to celebrate our unity.
Sincerely,
Phillip Martin,
Tribal Chief.
Mr. Speaker, today at the request of this community, federal and state law enforcement officials are actively studying the potential of reopening this case to bring any remaining murderers to justice. The purpose is not to reopen old wounds, but to bring closure and healing to those wounds by providing the remedy of justice.
This weekend, I will participate in events in Neshoba County memorializing the deaths of three men who sought equality, justice and civil rights. We will remember the past, take stock of the present, and work for the future. We are a better Mississippi today, we will be still better tomorrow. I commend this community for showing leadership and embracing justice and look forward to working with all the citizens of Neshoba County as we continue to move forward both socially and economically. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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