4/6/2005 6:00:00 PM Coalition stresses its non-activist role
The Philadelphia Coalition has agreed to a list of general principles and guidelines as it develops by-laws, one of the guidelines stressing its non-activist role.
Forging individual relationships, not crusading on particular issues, is among the seven guidelines approved March 21.
“Establishing a perpetual structure, through organization and community dialogue that will foster racial harmony and reconciliation, is a primary mission of the Coalition mainly by forging individual relationships, not crusading on particular issues,” one of the points said.
The guidelines specify that the organization is non-political in nature, that meetings are open to the public unless an executive session is called and that only the co-chairmen can speak publicly for the group, although members are encouraged to tell their individual stories to the media when asked to do interviews.
The guidelines do prohibit video and audio recordings of meetings by the media, although reporters can attend open meetings.
The 30-member multi-ethnic group was initially organized in March 2004 to plan the 40th anniversary commemoration of the civil rights murders here four decades ago, one of the major turning points of the civil rights movement, observers and historians say.
As the organization evolved last spring a desire was expressed for a perpetual structure and education became one of the primary focuses after the anniversary in June.
An initiative was begun with the public schools to establish a curriculum that would show how Neshoba County fits into the civil rights movements.
An education conference is planned this summer and could involve educators statewide.
One of the first acts of the Coalition after the June 20 commemoration was a vote asking the Legislature to designate Mississippi 19 as a memorial highway to the three slain civil rights workers.
Gov. Haley Barbour last month signed a bill designating Mississippi 19 as a memorial highway after a bill sailed through the state Legislature unanimously.
The Neshoba County Board of Supervisors, however, failed to pass a resolution endorsing the effort.
That designation fits in with a local tourism initiative begun before the Coalition was formed and efforts statewide to embrace the state’s cultural heritage, leaders say.
Hundreds of people from around the world come to Neshoba County annually to visit historic sites connected with the murders.
On June 21, 1964, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered in a Ku Klux Klan ambush while registering blacks to vote.
A Neshoba County man was indicted Jan. 6 on triple murder charges in connection with the deaths. His trial is set to begin June 13.
For years individuals here have offered unofficial tours, but lately the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Tourism Council has begun to formally organize groups.
With the help of the state and the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi, a color brochure was produced detailing black history in Neshoba County as well as providing a self-guided driving tour.
One of the first questions many visitors ask is if there is a public memorial to the slain workers.
Although the Coalition has been characterized by the media as pushing for the prosecution of the accused man, Edgar Ray Killen, leaders point out they simply made a call for justice and have not sought to address the guilt or innocence of individuals or in any way become involved with the investigation or the upcoming trial.
“The coalition’s specific purpose was to call for justice not to assist in the prosecution,” said coalition co-chairman Leroy Clemons. “That is strictly up to the attorney general and the district attorney
“Since the call for justice has been answered, we want to focus on the educational aspects. We want to see the history brought into schools as well as the history of the civil rights.”
In a closed meeting with Attorney General Jim Hood last September the group asked the state’s chief law enforcement officer to do the right thing and said they would back whatever decision he and the district attorney made with regard to prosecuting the Neshoba County murders.
At the time Hood and District Attorney Mark Duncan were reviewing evidence and deciding whether to bring murder charges for the first time.
City, county and business leaders had all called for justice with the Coalition at the June observance.
One of the guidelines adopted by the Coalition last month says, “When speaking publicly and representing the Coalition, members should avoid specifically taking positions on specific issues or, for example, commenting on the guilt or innocence of individuals.”
James E. Prince 3rd, editor and publisher of The Neshoba Democrat and the other co-chairman, said, “The Philadelphia Coalition is not prosecuting this case. We simply called on the authorities to do the right thing. It’s very important to allow the justice system to work on its own.”
The Philadelphia Coalition is modeled after a 1989 group of Neshoba County citizens who organized the 25th anniversary commemoration.
