MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (32nd), Jones, Jordan, Horhn, Simmons, Turner, Frazier, Baria, Jackson (11th), Harden, Butler
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO NAME THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) BUILDING IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, IN HONOR OF JAMES CHANEY, ANDREW GOODMAN AND MICHAEL SCHWERNER.
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the State of Mississippi to recognize the contributions of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, three remarkable gentlemen who dedicated their lives to the service of others; and
WHEREAS, in June 1964, these three young civil rights workers disappeared outside Philadelphia, Mississippi, where they were involved in the registering of African-Americans who had a desire to vote. The Department of Justice requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to intervene and lead the case; whereby the FBI led an intensive search for the young men. During the investigation, and at the request of President Lyndon B. Johnson, a new FBI field office was opened in Jackson, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the opening of the Jackson Division and the subsequent investigations, the bodies of the three civil rights workers were found in August 1964 in an earthen dam near Philadelphia, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, seven men were convicted of federal conspiracy charges and sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to ten years; and
WHEREAS, MIBURN (Mississippi Burning), as the case was called, became one of the largest investigations ever conducted in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, today, the Jackson Division employs Special Agents who are assigned to the headquarters office in the City of Jackson, as well as in nine resident agencies located in the following Mississippi municipalities: Columbus, Greenville, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Oxford, Pascagoula, Southaven and Tupelo; and
WHEREAS, these civil rights activists will always be recognized and remembered by people of all races, for not only the effect they had on the Civil Rights Movement, but also for their selfless acts of heroism:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby strongly urge the appropriate agency of federal government and the United States Congress to join in the effort to name the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Building, located on 1220 Echelon Parkway, Jackson, Mississippi 39201, in honor of the life and legacy of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the federal General Services Administration, President Barack Obama and to Mississippi's congressional delegation and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.