I went to the "alternate" Memorial Service for J.E. Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner which was held Sunday, June 19, 2005 at the burned out Longdale Community Center on Steele family land. The Steeles were among the folks coming out of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church 41 years ago when the Klan showed up. I went to the "regular" Memorial Service last year at Mt. Zion and was touched and blessed. This year I was touched and blessed at the alternate as well.

To begin with, when I received an invitation to the alternate service, I didn't realize it was not the same as the one I went to last year, and when I found out this was a different service because of some differences of opinions between the two groups, I hesitated, but I am glad that I went, for several reasons. I went with the idea of going to both services (since it didn't appear they would overlap much), but found it ran a bit late and was in the middle of an inspiring talk by Diane Nash, and I just couldn't tear myself away, in spite of chafing over missing the other service. I saw from the photos in the newspapers that some others made both services, and I know how hard it was for them to leave the alternate.

Part of the reason I went was hero worship, plain and simple. The people who were to be there were people I have looked up to for so many years - Curtis Muhammad, John O'Neal, Rev. James Lawson (who did not make it after all), Diane Nash, Rev. Advial McKenzie, George Roberts, Bernice Sims, Hollis Watkins, Rev. C.T. Vivian, Margaret Block, Rita Bender Schwerner and others. I also wanted to know what the second service was about.

We began with some talks from some of these heros and heroines of the civil rights movement, went into some wonderful singing of civil rights songs led by the forever young and full of voice Hollis Watkins, followed by a few more people. Then we had a roll call for martyrs of the civil rights movement, and others lynched because their skin was not the right color, and called for justice to be meted out to the murderers of these people, as well as the other men complicit in the Neshoba murders. Indeed, we echoed Edgar Ray Killen's own lawyers who repeatedly asked, "Why just this one man?" On that one thing, we agreed.

We then broke bread together with a dinner on the grounds like so many I went to when I was a child, breaking into small groups to eat the wonderful and delicious food prepared by the Steele family and other people from the area. I want to thank them for their graciousness and tell them how much I enjoyed that meal (the okra and peas were a new combination to me, and they were superb!)

After that we had some more great singing led by Mr. Watkins (he is wonderful!) and some ideas put forth by anyone who chose to speak, a brainstorming effort.

I was so caught up that I didn't take notes or write people's names down, and I fear that I have missed people, and some I didn't miss, but I can't remember their names. Please forgive me, and if you were there or have knowledge of the people in these pictures and see that I have labeled any incorrectly (or not labeled them), please, please let me know about my errors so that I can correct them. Email me at editor@mississippipolitical.com and let me know the error of my ways. Also, if you disagree with anything I've said, let me know and I'll gladly post it (although I may talk back).

After reading the Neshoba Justice website remarks, it appears to me that the two groups are much closer than they may realize. It saids, "Today justice was served. We are satisfied with today’s verdict but justice is still incomplete. Others responsible for this crime must be brought to justice as well. Seeking justice for the brutal murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner was long overdue. But we have only begun our work here. These three brave young men were not murdered by a lone individual. While a vigilante group may have fired the gun, the State of Mississippi loaded and aimed the weapon. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission monitored and intimidated civil rights activists to prevent black voter registration. The White Citizens’ Councils enforced white supremacy through economic oppression. And decent people remained silent while evil was done in their name. These shameful actions have been little understood by Mississippi citizens . . . The Philadelphia Coalition issues a challenge and a promise. We challenge our fellow citizens to join us in an honest appraisal of the past. Knowledge brings truth and the truth brings freedom. Today we have a cause for hope because our community came together to acknowledge its sin. But we also have a purpose for the future: to seek the truth, to insure justice for all, and to nurture reconciliation. And so we promise in our own community to see this journey through to the finish line. But we can not do it alone. We must all understand how and why these murders and thousands of others occurred. We must understand the system that encouraged it to happen so that we can dismantle it. . . "