Screenplay by Chris Gerolmo Released in December of 1988

“MIBURN” (FBI code name) Setting: summer of 1964 Key Characters: Civil Rights Workers: Michael Schwerner James Chaney Andy Goodman FBI: Agent Anderson (John Proctor) Agent Ward (Joseph Sullivan) Local “law enforcement”: Sheriff Ray Stuckey (Lawrence Rainey) Deputy Pell (Cecil Price) Frank Bailey (Wayne Roberts) Clayton Townley (Sam Bowers)

CORE: Congress of Racial Equality Founded in 1942 at Univ. of Chicago Outgrowth of Gandhi inspired organization called “Fellowship of Reconciliation In the beginning a mostly white middle class organization Later expanded focus into the South; involved in Civil Rights movement’s most important events: -Organized the 1961 Freedom Rides -Began voter registration in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina -Involved in the Montgomery bus boycott -Involved in the 1963 March on Washington

Events leading up to summer 1964 Freedom Riders (begin 1961): 2 buses leaves Wash. D.C. for New Orleans (May 4) South Carolina – riders beaten Alabama – bus set on fire, riders attacked with tire irons etc. Police & FBI watch what is happening and do nothing 2 nd “Freedom Ride” planned (Nashville to Birmingham) – organizers ask for protection from the Justice Dept. in D.C – get none. Again they are stopped, taken off the bus and beaten Violence is escalating – Freedom Riders are making news all over the world. Atty. Gen. Rob’t Kennedy trades the Riders’ arrests for Mississippi police protection against mob violence 1961, 1962 mass demonstrations begin in the deep south 1963: thousands of blacks are marching in the streets 1963: Justice Dept. recorded 1,412 demonstrations in 3 mo.

Mississippi Summer Project Organized by SNCC – ( Student Nonviolent Coord. Committee) Mississippi chosen b/c at the time only 6% of all blacks were registered to vote Problems the Project faced: -22 questions incl. interpretation of Mississippi Constitution -To discourage registration – names of those attempting to register posted in newspapers -Common practice to fire a person attempting to register – “sawmill worker” in BLM -Some of their Goals: -Register blacks to vote -Build Freedom Schools to counter the “separate but ‘un’equal” schools -Establish Community Centers to provide Medical & Legal services

1964 Background: April 24: KKK burns crosses at 61 separate locations in MS. Memorial Day: Schwerner & Chaney speak at Mt. Zion Church in Longdale, MS to urge congregation to register to vote. June 16: armed KKK members assault leaders of Mt. Zion Church. June 17: KKK burns Mt. Zion Church to the ground – 1 of 20 black churches firebombed in the summer of June 21: Schwerner, Chaney, Goodman drive from Meridian to site of burned church. On their way back to Meridian, MS they are arrested and taken to jail in Philadelphia, MS. They are released at 10 p.m. They are never heard from again. June 23: President Johnson and Attorney General Robert Kennedy with others discuss an Administration response to the crisis in Mississippi. June – July: FBI interviews about 1,000 Mississippians; incl. about 500 KKK members.

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia

Michael Schwerner 24 yr old native of New York City Cornell Univ. grad. Commitment to Civil Rights deepened after he watched the Birmingham riots of 1963 Came to Miss. In Jan w/wife; worked as CORE field worker 1 st white Civil Rights worker permanently based outside of Jackson, MS Came under heavy attacks for efforts to register blacks to vote. Klan Imperial Wizard, Sam Bowers, ordered Schwerner’s “elimination in May, 1964

Andrew Goodman From Upper West Side of Manhattan 20 yrs old when killed – 1 st full day in MS. As soph. in HS traveled to Wash. D.C. to participate in the “Youth March for Integrated Schools” As senior in HS visited poor mining town in W.V. to prepare report on poverty in U.S. Part of the Mississippi Summer Project Came from wealthy family (“sheltered”); thought the experience would be educational and useful Was enrolled at Queens College as a drama student, but switched to political science.

James Chaney 21 year old native of Meridian, MS. Began volunteer work in Meridian in October, 1963 Schwerner wrote national CORE office asking that Chaney become a paid staff member Worked as a plasterer with his father until 1963 when he left to work in the CORE office.

Lawrence Rainey Reputation for being brutal Shot & killed a black man; no charges grew out of this incident Never proven that he was involved in the conspiracy to kill the Civil Rights Workers.

Cecil Price Klansman, known to terrorize blacks in Neshoba County. Stopped the car the Civil Rights workers were in. Arrested them, denied them right to make call Released them and then stopped them again Turned them over the Klansmen

Wayne Roberts Triggerman in the deaths of the Civil Rights workers Identified at trial by fellow Klansman Participated in beating of blacks at the Mt. Zion Church.

Sam Bowers Imperial Wizard of White Knights of KKK of Mississippi. Authorized the “elimination” of “Goatee” Wanted to send a message to other Civil Rights workers Known for white supremacy, anti-Supreme Court, passion for guns & explosives, and swastika “fetish.” Played lead role in the killing of the Civil Rights workers

Edgar Ray Killen Update Jan. 6, 2005: State of Mississippi charged 79 yr old Klan preacher with murder in connection with slayings of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner. June, ’05: Jury selection begins June, ’05: Jury convicts Killen of manslaughter and Judge sentences him to 3 – 20 year terms. Jury had reasonable doubt as to whether Killen intended the Klansmen to kill the workers, hence no Murder conviction.