Susan Klopfer Connects The Dots (from the comments)

by Benjamin T. Greenberg on June 8, 2005

Susan picks up on Ben Chaney's point about the relationship between the Sovereignty Commission and the Klan and how that relationship plays itself out in the present, with powerful people like Trent Lott:

U.S. Senator Trent Lott, who, while a student at the University of Mississippi, was an "actor" with the Commission, also supports not prosecuting the Klansmen. In 1989, through a spokesperson, Senator Lott stated: "While this was a sad chapter in our nation's history [i.e., the murders of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner], the events have and will continue to speak for themselves. I prefer to focus on the progress Mississippi has made." ("Cochran, Lott Won't Sign Resolution for Slain Activists," Clarion Ledger (June 28, 1989).)

Susan explains that

The point Ben Chaney makes regarding the relationship of the Klan to the Sovereignty Commission is particularly interesting in light of the "investigation" of "subversives working for integration" called for by the Commission (report SCR ID # 2-112-1-36-1-1-1)in February of 1964.

From Feb. 11-25, Director Erle Johnston sent Virgil Downing into Neshoba, Holmes, Sharkey, Yazoo, Washington and several other counties with instructions to contact all newly elected sheriffs with the purpose of offering "full cooperation and assisting them in any way possible." Both CORE and the NAACP are singled out in this report as causing potential racial trouble.

While Sheriff Rainey was "out of town" the investigator met with Rainey's wife who promised "should any trouble develop" her husband would notify the Commission right away. The short, two-page report is posted on my blog.

Here's the document Susan refers to:

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