James Chaney, Mickey Schwerner and James Goodman were murdered on June 21, 1964, just outside Philadelphia, MS. Tomorrow many people will gather in Philadelphia to mark the anniversary and remember their sacrifice. Later they will all go to a community center a few miles from town, and read out the names of the many people, mostly black, who were murdered with impunity in Mississippi. Some names are famous -- Emmett Till, Vernon Dahmer, Herbert Lee. Many others less so -- John Lee, Adlena Hamlet, Freddie Thomas, and on and on.
Last year, the names were written on crosses and stars, and passed out to those in attendance. Several teenagers read the list of names, one by one, and the circumstances of their deaths. As each name was called, whoever had the respective cross or star stood in front of the assembled crowd, then placed it on display.
