I was honored to be interviewed by Jerry Mitchell for this article that came out in today's Clarion Ledger.
A day after the FBI asked for the public's assistance in solving 43 unpunished killings in Mississippi during the civil rights era, researchers say they know of at least 18 more slayings that haven't been included.
"There definitely needs to be a bigger list," said Margaret Burnham, professor at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston.
On Thursday, the FBI highlighted 43 killings between 1955 and 1967 in Mississippi.
Burnham said research has uncovered 11 additional cases. She said one name the FBI released is misspelled - it should be the Rev. J.E. Evasingston, who was killed in 1955 in Tallahatchie.
Ben Greenberg of Boston, a journalist and blogger investigating the Feb. 28, 1964, killing of Clifton Walker, north of Woodville, said he's run across seven names in his research that don't appear on the FBI list and weren't cited by Burnham's research. "And there might be more," he said.
Three of those - Lula Mae Anderson, Eli Jackson and Dennis Jones - were found dead in a car in December 1963, not far from Poor House Road, where Walker is believed to have been killed by Klansmen....
Surprisingly, all seven additional names that Greenberg found were either mentioned or referenced in the FBI file itself.
He has obtained a copy of the file of the Walker case, but some of the most important information has been redacted, such as the names of the two suspects recommended for arrest by the FBI, he said.
If the FBI is truly interested in solving these cases, the entire files should be released to the families and the public, he said.
He recalled sharing some of the FBI files with the Walker family - files the family had never seen.
"A full approach to justice involves more than just procedures in the courtroom," he said. "It also involves as full accounting as possible of the truth in the community where the murders occurred."
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I saw that! You've become one of the go-to people with the research you've done. Good job, Ben!
Anne Moody in her autobiography, Coming of Age in Mississippi, makes reference to her family member, Clifton Walker, and the three civil workers that were found death from fumes. It was believed they were killed to send a message to the black of that county and state. It act was referred to as “terror killings.”
Hi Rhumberosoy. Thanks for your comment. I know Anne Moody’s book and have long been interested in whether her connection to her uncle Clifton Walker had anything to do with why he was targeted for the brutal shooting that ended his life so terribly. I’m familiar with the story of the three individuals found dead in a car about a year earlier, in Dec 63, not far away from where Walker was shot.
Hello Ben,u00a0I read in your comment above that you’re familiar with the story of the three individuals found dead in a car. Eli Jacksonu00a0was my great grandfather,I was wondering if youu00a0would be able to give me the information that you do have?? I’d really appriciate it…
Hi Teetosha10. Thank you for getting in touch about Eli Jackson.u00a0I’ve sent you an email so we can discuss.u00a0
Hello Ben, Eli Jackson was also my great-father. I am sitting here with his daughter my grandmothercan you please share with me the information that you are sharing with cousin Tosha. My email address is lomax1234@Gmail.com
Thanks for getting in touch, as well. I will email you for further contact.