Press Release - Neshoba Murders Documentary (Mississippi Burning Case), Jackson, MS, Oct 3

The Hamer Institute

The Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy

Jackson State University



Arkansas Delta Truth and Justice Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts

Dr. Leslie Burl McLemore

The Hamer Institute

601-979-1561

hamer.institute@jsums.edu

John Gibson

Arkansas Delta Truth and Justice Center

870-972-9248

Ark_Delta_Truth_and_Justice_Ctr@yahoo.com

Why Only Killen?

A Documentary That Reopens The Question Of The Adequacy Of Justice Brought To The
Mississippi Civil Rights Murders Of 1964

Jackson, MS – September 25, 2007 – In the recently released documentary, Why Only Killen?, the Arkansas Delta Truth and Justice Center reopens the question of the adequacy of justice rendered by the state of Mississippi in the Neshoba County civil rights murders case of 1964. “After more than 40 years it is long past the time to reveal the truth and obtain a full measure of justice in the Neshoba murders case. It is late, but it is never too late to reveal truth and render justice.” says John Gibson, co-producer of the documentary.



In June 2005, Edgar Ray "Preacher" Killen was convicted of manslaughter by a Mississippi jury, 41 years after the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. It is widely believed that there are many others who were complicit in the murders, yet Mississippi has never prosecuted any of these people.



Please join The Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy of Jackson State University, the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, and the Arkansas Delta Truth and Justice Center for a screening of the documentary on Wednesday, October 3, at 6:00 p.m. at the Smith Robertson Museum at 528 Bloom Street in Jackson , Mississippi.


The screening will be the first presentation in the 24th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Symposium Lecture Series.



This event will begin with an introduction describing how the documentary came to be made. Poet, freedom singer and veteran of the civil rights movement Margaret Block will share memories of her friends James Chaney and Michael Schwerner and lead the crowd in freedom singing. Jimmie Travis and other Mississippi civil rights movement veterans will also participate in the program.



What: Documentary screening of Why Only Killen?

Where: Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center

(528 Bloom Street, Jackson, Mississippi)

When: Wednesday, October 3, 6:00 p.m. (reception to follow screening)

The Event Is Free And Open To The Public.