House OKs Civil Rights Era Cold Case Bill

Bill Would Establish New Division To Crack Unsolved Murders; Quick Approval Expected In Senate

(AP)  The House passed a bill Wednesday to establish a new division of federal prosecutors and FBI agents focused strictly on cracking unsolved murders from the Civil Rights Era.

The bill, which is also moving swiftly through the Senate, would authorize $10 million a year over the next decade to create a unit at the Justice Department to pursue cases that have sat cold for decades. It also would earmark $2 million per year in grants for state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate cases where federal prosecution isn't practical, and another $1.5 million to improve coordination among investigating agencies.

The bill, which passed 422-2, is named in honor of Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who was beaten and murdered in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman. His killers were never convicted.

"We must do something to right these wrongs," said Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and civil rights veteran who sponsored the bill. "We have an obligation ... let us move to close this dark stain on our nation's history."

State and federal prosecutors have had a string of successes recently in reopening racially motivated slayings from the 1950s and 1960s, including the 1963 Birmingham, Ala., church bombing and the 1964 slayings of three civil rights volunteers in Mississippi.

Most recently, prosecutors last week won the conviction of reputed Klansman James Ford Seale on federal charges of kidnapping and conspiracy in the 1964 deaths of Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee. The 19-year-olds disappeared from Franklin County, Miss., in 1964, and their bodies were found later in the Mississippi River.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department announced it was reopening investigations into about a dozen suspicious deaths in the South. But lawmakers and advocates say there are dozens, if not hundreds, more cases that are ripe for review.

At a recent hearing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker said the department plans to review at least 100 more cases, many based on files turned over by the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, which has long pressed for more prosecutions.

Becker and others have cautioned that the cases are very difficult to prosecute because witnesses have died or forgotten details, evidence has been lost and laws have changed.

[brianbwb-2009]

But we all know it will be vetoed by Bush.

I can hear it now, some drivel about perpetuating division, while the truth is failure, or unwillingness to hunt these scum is what perpetuates division.

And such a veto will virtually lock in the David Duke - Pat Robertson vote (as if they actually need to lock it in) for the next election, they'll need all the votes they can get, as clearlt this one won't be close enough to steal.

[randalds]

That's worth 12 million.
Posted by realpatriot1 at 10:14 PM : Jun 20, 2007

And more. It's worth the value of the human lives that were lost due to bigotry and hate. The murderers must, at the very least, always be looking over their shoulders at justice catching up with them. It's the right thing to do.

[realpatriot1]

If you think these cases are futile, you haven't been paying attention to the ones that have come to trial.

Beckwith never thought he would have to pay for his crime. Eventually we'll get or they'll die being hunted.

That's worth 12 million.

[donnie900]

Its way too political. Marshalls.. Prosecutors. They get elected! And look at how corrupt the electoral process is. This is unacceptable! We wanna find the people who committed these crimes! Not get elected..

[randalds]

And, please show me where in the story it said all the the victims in the cases were all poor southern black people. In the 'civil rites era' it did not matter how much money a black family had.
Posted by nottellin1 at 08:01 PM : Jun 20, 2007

The majority of the people in the south who were black were poor. The majority of the southern blacks who were killed by racists during the Civil RIGHTS era were poor.

The quote said that the cases would be difficult to prosecute, but no one who cares about justice would call them futile and be opposed to trying, unless they don't think the victims were worth getting justice for. Obviously you don't.

[nottellin1]

Would you think it's futile if it was one of your family members murdered? Or is it only futile because they were just poor southern black folks, so who cares? Just wondering.
Posted by RandalDS at 05:45 PM : Jun 20, 2007

Is the racist card the only one you have to play Randy or what?

I called this exercise futile because that is how it is reported in the quote that I referenced. If there were a more positive expected outcome, I would be all for it, duh.
And, please show me where in the story it said all the the victims in the cases were all poor southern black people. In the 'civil rites era' it did not matter how much money a black family had.

[donnie900]

I'm for opening all the old court cases though. All the old fancy dancy nifong prosecutors .. who think they can get elected by finding a quick fugitive. I'm for that.

But anything involving an election campaign? In 2007? You're crazy.

[donnie900]

How in the hell are you supposed to know what racism is when you can't even say it? Huh? How in the hell does a language become racism? Huh?

Do you know what racism is? No.

[donnie900]

I really see no justification for racism in 2007. The only thing people who claim racism got is a loud mouthed reverend who put outta commission a talk radio host for no reason other than his own publicity.

[rushlimpdrug]

I have had the unfortunate experience of working around racist including ex-KKK and people related to KKK.
I have never worked with a racist. Why? They are cowards. They will not admit to being racist. Racist cops are the worst. They come in all colors.
I do not condone racism and never will.
Bringing these people to justice is an uphill battle and then some. Good luck

[randalds]

I'm 50 and it's not going to go away in my lifetime, but still you do what little you can to chip away at it and hope that someday the ignorant will open their eyes. Not in my lifetime, but someday.

[a-ji]

For years and no matter how strong the campaign to do away racism, still many won't let go of it.

[randalds]

Yet the worst racists are always the one that really don't even see it in themselves. They're the dangerous ones and worse then the ones who put on the sheets and burn crosses. those ones you can see and deal with, but the ones that hide it even from themselves are the ones who really keep it going.

[a-ji]

Probably the term "racist" never ceases.

[randalds]

Thanks. It always seems to be "futile" to some people when the victims are not well to do blond white girls. Funny how when one of them is murdered it makes national news, but when it's a poor black girl only their immediate family is aware of it or seems to care.

[a-ji]

Would you think it's futile if it was one of your family members murdered? Or is it only futile because they were just poor southern black folks, so who cares? Just wondering.
Posted by RandalDS at 05:45 PM : Jun 20, 2007

GOOD POINT RandalDS

[randalds]

Great, so lets spend 12 plus million a year in this futile exercise.
Posted by nottellin1 at 05:38 PM : Jun 20, 2007

Would you think it's futile if it was one of your family members murdered? Or is it only futile because they were just poor southern black folks, so who cares? Just wondering.

[a-ji]

Whatever . .
Posted by rushlimpdrug at 05:20 PM : Jun 20, 2007

It seems your not pleased with this one.

[nottellin1]

Becker and others have cautioned that the cases are very difficult to prosecute because witnesses have died or forgotten details, evidence has been lost and laws have changed.

Great, so lets spend 12 plus million a year in this futile exercise.

[rushlimpdrug]

Finally JUSTICE will be served.
Posted by A-JI
. Whatever . .