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Archive of the JFP's Coverage of the Dee-Moore Case

Following are links to the Jackson Free Press' full, and ongoing, package of stories about 1960s Klan activity in the Natchez-Meadville-Roxie, Miss., area, starting with the award-winning investigative story by Donna Ladd and a team of young Mississippians, working with David Ridgen, a documentary filmmaker from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., to chronicle Thomas' Moore's 2005 return to Mississippi to seek justice for his brother's murder.

2007 Friendship Ball Honorees Announced

Jackson 2000, a racial reconcilation organization, has announced that the 2007 Friendship Ball honors are Harvey Johnson Jr. and Cora Norman. The Friendship Ball will be March 3 at Hal & Mal's. More details soon.

Senate Votes to Fully Fund Adequate Education

Verbatim from Nancy Loome of The Parents Campaign:

It is a great day for Mississippi children! This morning the full Senate passed, on a unanimous voice vote, a version of HB 238 that fully funds the MAEP! This is a major victory for Mississippi school children, and you made it happen! The calls, letters and e-mails from concerned citizens all across this state sent an undeniable message to legislators and other elected officials. You made it clear that Mississippians will stand for nothing less than a quality education for all our children!

BREAKING: Melton, Bodyguards Back in Upper Level

Club-goers are reporting that Mayor Frank Melton, and an entourage including bodyguards, Dets. Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, arrived at the Upper Level nightclub in Jackson close to 2 a.m. today—Sunday, Feb. 11. The mayor arrived in a black Chrysler, witnesses say, along with several JPD police cars. There are reports that Chief Shirlene Anderson was among the entourage, but her presence could not be confirmed Sunday.

The Senate Unloads

The Mississippi Senate went hog wild passing bills Wednesday, passing a voter ID bill and three bills that restrict abortion. Whether these bills stand a chance in the House remains to be seen. Head over to State Desk for Adam Lynch's latest legislative update.

Crime Plan Short on Specifics

Police Chief Shirlene Anderson gave the first few hints of a crime plan to the public this Monday following a City Council budget meeting. Anderson had stalled for months in response to calls by council members for her to present a crime plan, earlier telling the council that revealing the plan would give away too much information to criminals.

Nancy King

Nandy's Candy Store looks exactly how an old-fashioned candy store should. The floors are old hardwood, and the only thing that keeps customers from reaching their hands right in and grabbing whichever sweet confection tempts them is the domed glass over the display case. And as one of the customers who walks in on a lazy Saturday morning says, the place smells so sweet and sugary, "I probably gained five pounds just from breathing the air." Nancy V. King, the owner of Nandy's, wouldn't have it any other way.

More Prosecutions Possible in Neshoba Slayings?

We are transferring a posting from BenG (from the Hungry Blues blog) here in order to have a more substantive conversation about it and not take away from the Dee-Moore discussion where it was originally posted:

Emmett Till Town Hall Meeting

Mississippians for Reparations (MFR) sponsors a town hall meeting tonight, Feb. 2, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Fresh Start Christian church (5426 Manhattan Rd., Jackson). There, the praised documentary "The Untold Story of Emmett Till," produced by Keith Beauchamp will be shown; following that, a public discussion about the film, and other community concerns will take place. This is a historical and cultural event, you don't want to miss.

My Birthday House Summary

Ruben Rodriguez-Santos

Ruben Rodriguez-Santos, 31, lives for family. He beams when talking about his 3-year-old son, Ruben Alexander. Hopping up from the booth near the front door, which allows a constant stream of customers in and out, Rodriguez-Santos goes to retrieve his uncle, Alex Sivira, from the back.

James Ford Seale: A Trail of Documents Tells the Story

James Ford Seale was walking tall and chewing on a cigar as he appeared before a subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities on Jan. 14, 1966, at 11:35 a.m. in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The Forgotten Case of Dee and Moore: A Media Timeline

Some Jim Crow-era murders have drawn much more attention than others. At the top end of the scale was the high-profile case of the Klan murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner on June 21, 1964—which draws thousands of entries in the Nexis news database (a search will not return more than 3,000 at a time). Several conspirators were tried in federal court in the 1960s and actually served some time for their role. Then the case continued to simmer on the national radar, finally culminating in the arrest and prosecution of Edgar Ray Killen in June 2005.

Ballad of Charlie Moore and Henry Dee

We found Marla Moore's freshly penned lyrics in honor of Charles Moore and Henry Dee on her "Punk Rasta" myspace page this week and asked to publish them. The JFP spoke with Moore Tuesday about the song she had just written for two fallen Mississippians.

Remembering the Slain

See full JFP Dee-Moore archive here.

Due to the similar nature (M.O.) of the crime that Seale and his cronies are accused of committing (picking up young black men, torturing and killing them), my brother met a similar fate. (He possibly refused a ride and was run down and then shot as he was waiting for a bus in Provident, Tenn.) He was found by a cab driver with a wound through the head on New Providence Boulevard, with a bullet round next to his head.

DISH with Ben Allen

Before the holidays, Council President Ben Allen set out a number of goals he said City Council would pursue in January, with the hope of making substantial progress by February. Where do things stand now?

Last week's summary

McGowan Against Eminent-Domain Limits

LeFleur Lakes developer John McGowan is coming out swinging against the limits to eminent domain to benefit private developers that is now before the Legislature. Head over to StateDesk for more details and to discuss this issue. (No registration required there.)

John Hardy

The University Club is a hive of hospitality and networking. Jackson native John Hardy, 50, manages the 32-year-old establishment, which fills the entire 22nd floor of the posh AmSouth Building. The club is one-part ritzy restaurant and one-part entertainment extravaganza—an exclusive hot spot for Jackson's most interesting and influential.

AG Jim Hood Celebrates State Farm Settlement

Attorney General Jim Hood said Tuesay that his office has reached a class-action settlement with State Farm in the Katrina lawsuit. Policy holders and Hood claim the insurance company wrongfully denied coverage for storm surge damage.

What a day!

Bush Doesn't Mention Katrina Recovery

AP is reporting tonight that Bush did not mention Katrina recovery a single time in his "State of the Union" address. Maybe he just forgot. AP:

Bush to Go Domestic in ‘State of the Union'

President Bush must give a difficult "State of the Union" tonight to a nation that has turned against his policies. Please join us here at the JFP to blog it live. The New York Times is reporting:

Collection of House of Representatives Summaries for the 2007 session thus far

Finally…

Monticello Mayor Speaks Out Against ‘Two Lake'

In response to The Clarion-Ledger's huge package of stories last weekend overwhelmingly in favor of the LeFleur Lakes development plan (including an odd pro-pro pair of columns), Monticello Mayor Dave Nichols II wrote the paper in protest, bringing up a vital point too little discussed by the developers:

Attorney Chokwe Lumumba Re-instated

The Associated Press is reporting that the Mississippi Supreme Court has voted 8-1 to re-instate controversial attorney Chokwe Lumumba. Here's a JFP news story with relevant context, and an opinion piece against his disbarment.

‘This Film Is Not Yet Rated' TONIGHT at Hal & Mal's

Head over to Hal & Mal's Red Room for the Crossroads Film Society presentation of "This Film is Not Yet Rated." This daring and funny documentary explores the mystery of the MPAA, a lobbying organization for the movie industry, and its hitherto unquestioned censoring process. 7 p.m., $7 ($5 for members). 601-510-9148 .

[City Buzz] no. 16 Janurary 17 - January 24

U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. gave State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. a heavy blow last week, telling them that they have to cover a policy holder's hurricane wind damage unless they can absolutely prove that storm surge was the cause of destruction.

Hell Freezes Over

Deuce McAllister won't "run it up in there," my dad likes to say. Or so said an opposing coach, he claims, debating the last position for the Magnolia squad in the 1997 Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic. The Morton High back eventually made the team and saw the ball maybe twice amid a collection of more hyped pass-and-catch stars headlined by Romaro Miller. Miller set a Classic record by attempting 34 passes, but Mississippi lost, 10-6.

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