Edgar Ray Killen Convicted of Manslaughter
Edgar Ray Killen was convicted of manslaughter for his involvement in the 1964 murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner. This landmark conviction came after the case was reopened in 2004, drawing national attention to the historical racial violence in Mississippi. Killen, a former Ku Klux Klan leader, had previously been tried twice in the 1960s but was acquitted both times. The jury deliberated for only 40 minutes before reaching a guilty verdict, reflecting the changing attitudes towards civil rights and justice over the decades.
Killen was a former Ku Klux Klan leader.
The victims were civil rights activists.
This case was reopened due to public interest.
The trial lasted several weeks with a quick verdict.
What Happened?
Edgar Ray Killen was convicted in Mississippi for manslaughter related to the murders of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner in 1964. This conviction was significant as it came 41 years after the original events, which were part of a broader context of racial violence during the Civil Rights Movement. Killen, who had previously held leadership within the Ku Klux Klan, was implicated in orchestrating the deaths of the three men who were investigating the burning of a black church in Neshoba County. Initially tried and acquitted in 1967, the case remained cold until a renewed investigation in 2004 due to a combination of renewed public interest and pressure from civil rights advocates and families of the victims.
The trial in 2005 was marked by the examination of old evidence, new witnesses, and a jury that was significantly different from the all-white juries of the 1960s. The trial lasted several weeks, but the jury took less than an hour to reach their decision. The conviction of Killen was a pivotal moment that resonated deeply with the families of the victims and the civil rights community. It represented a small measure of justice and acknowledgment of the longstanding impact of racial violence in the United States.
Why Does it Matter?
The conviction of Edgar Ray Killen is particularly significant as it highlights the struggle for justice in cases of racial violence that have persisted for decades. It demonstrates how societal attitudes toward race and justice can shift over time, leading to accountability for historical wrongs. This case played a role in developing a broader understanding of civil rights issues and helped amplify the voices of those advocating for justice and reconciliation in the wake of racial violence.