Civil Rights Workers Murdered in Mississippi, 1964

June 21, 1964: Murder of Civil Rights Workers

On June 21, 1964, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman were murdered by the KKK in Neshoba County, Mississippi. They were in the county to investigate the burning of Mt. Zion Methodist Church, a site of a CORE Freedom School.

Their case gained national attention, but many others were also murdered in Mississippi while seeking basic rights. During the investigation, the bodies of eight African Americans were found, including Herbert Oarsby, Henry Hezekiah Dee, and Eddie Moore.

Initially, authorities suggested the disappearance was a publicity stunt. However, their bodies were found on August 4, 1964. Ronald Reagan later launched his campaign near the burial site, praising “states’ rights”.

Related Resources

  • Teaching SNCC: Role plays exploring the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
  • Who Gets to Vote?: Lessons on voting rights and voter suppression.
  • Freedom Day in Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Howard Zinn's account of the SNCC voting rights campaign.
  • I’ve Got the Light of Freedom: A people’s history of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
  • Race Against Time: A journalist's search for justice in Civil Rights era murder cases.
  • Eyes on the Prize: Documentary history of the Civil Rights Movement.
  • Freedom Song: Film based on SNCC's activism and voter registration in Mississippi.
  • Freedom Summer: Documentary about the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi.

Other Murders During the Civil Rights Era

  • May 7, 1955: Murder of Rev. George W. Lee for registering African Americans to vote.
  • Aug. 13, 1955: Murder of Lamar Smith for urging African Americans to vote.
  • Aug. 28, 1955: Murder of Emmett Till.
  • June 12, 1963: Murder of Medgar Evers.
  • Feb. 28, 1964: Murder of Clifton Walker by the KKK.
  • July 12, 1964: Murders of Henry Dee and Charles Moore by the Klan.
  • Aug. 4, 1964: Bodies of Chaney, Schwerner, and Goodman found.
  • Jan. 10, 1966: Murder of Vernon Dahmer for offering to pay poll taxes.
  • July 22, 1966: Police interference with lawful protests in Grenada, Mississippi.