A Response to "Justice"
I received the following comment about my post entitled "Justice."
I remember "that day" just like it happended last week. I was a young boy of 12 who just happened to be living in a home that was situated two houses down from where then Sheriff Lawrence Rainey's home was, and right next door to a County Judge. Both were considered suspects in the gruesome murders, and I well remember the FBI agents coming to my house on several occasions to interview my parents about any knowledge of "suspicious activity" in the neighborhood. The FBI even interviewed me--a kid of 12 years old who should have had his mind on baseball games instead of murder. I well remember the busloads of Navy sailors from NAS-Meridian who were sent in to my neighborhood by the FBI to "look for evidence". It was a terrible time in our nation's history that branded my little home of Philadephia, Mississippi as the mob-killing, hate crime capital of the world forever. James Chaney, Michael Shwerner, and Andrew Goodman did not come to Neshoba County, Mississippi to raise hell--there was no evil intent in their hearts. They were here to simply try to do what they could for a group of people whose church was burned to the ground courtesy of the local chapter of the KKK. Now, 40 years later a man has been arrested and charged with the crime of murdering the young men. It's truly been a long time coming...something that should have happended long before now. But let's not close the book on this dark chapter in out local history too quickly. Let's not brand Mr. Killen guilty just because he is the first of those who has been charged with the crime. The State has to prove it's case. There must be evidence presented in Court to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that this man is guilty of what he has been charged with. The jury must decide the merits of the State's case against Mr. Killen. It's been a long time since my name was drawn for Jury duty...I pray to God that I am not picked to serve on that jury.
Dad
I couldn't have said it better myself.
--Jonathan
I remember "that day" just like it happended last week. I was a young boy of 12 who just happened to be living in a home that was situated two houses down from where then Sheriff Lawrence Rainey's home was, and right next door to a County Judge. Both were considered suspects in the gruesome murders, and I well remember the FBI agents coming to my house on several occasions to interview my parents about any knowledge of "suspicious activity" in the neighborhood. The FBI even interviewed me--a kid of 12 years old who should have had his mind on baseball games instead of murder. I well remember the busloads of Navy sailors from NAS-Meridian who were sent in to my neighborhood by the FBI to "look for evidence". It was a terrible time in our nation's history that branded my little home of Philadephia, Mississippi as the mob-killing, hate crime capital of the world forever. James Chaney, Michael Shwerner, and Andrew Goodman did not come to Neshoba County, Mississippi to raise hell--there was no evil intent in their hearts. They were here to simply try to do what they could for a group of people whose church was burned to the ground courtesy of the local chapter of the KKK. Now, 40 years later a man has been arrested and charged with the crime of murdering the young men. It's truly been a long time coming...something that should have happended long before now. But let's not close the book on this dark chapter in out local history too quickly. Let's not brand Mr. Killen guilty just because he is the first of those who has been charged with the crime. The State has to prove it's case. There must be evidence presented in Court to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that this man is guilty of what he has been charged with. The jury must decide the merits of the State's case against Mr. Killen. It's been a long time since my name was drawn for Jury duty...I pray to God that I am not picked to serve on that jury.
Dad
I couldn't have said it better myself.
--Jonathan
posted by Jonathan at
6:53 PM
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