Mt. Zion remembers sacrifice of 3 civil rights workers in '64

The Historic Mt. Zion United Methodist Church held its 61st Annual Memorial Service for James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner on Sunday.

The trio was murdered on June 21, 1964, in Neshoba County by the Ku Klux Klan because they were involved in a movement registering Blacks to vote.

The young men, Chaney, 21, Goodman, 20, and Schwerner, 24, were in Neshoba County to investigate the June 16, 1964, burning of Mt. Zion set ablaze by the Klan to lure them here in a conspiracy that involved law enforcement.

On the night of the fire, several church members were beaten, some severely, as they left a church meeting.

Days later, the young men came to investigate and were stopped in town on trumped-up speeding charges and jailed until nightfall. They were released and headed down Highway 19 to their headquarters in Meridian.

They were ambushed by the Klan near House, taken to a remote gravel road, and shot in the head at point-blank range. Their bodies were taken to a site off Highway 21 South and buried in an earthen dam. The remains were found 44 days later after one of the most extensive searches in U.S. history.

State Sen. Sollie Norwood of Jackson, a Democrat representing District 28 since 2013, served as guest speaker. He was introduced by Ko Bragg.

“They came to register Black voters in a time and place where doing so could get you killed, and for them it did,” Norwood said. “Their blood cried out from the red clay of Philadelphia, Mississippi, and it still cries out today.”

“But what does it say?” Norwood asked. “Does it speak of sorrow? Yes. Does it speak of courage? Absolutely. But most of all, it asks a question—what will you do with the freedom I died for?”

Norwood then compared their sacrifice to Jesus, who “walked into danger, stood for the poor, called out injustice, healed the broken, lifted the lowly, pushed the gospel around with love, welcomed all, and died for what he dared to do right.”

The congregation began the service on Sunday by singing “Lift Every Voice,” followed by a welcome from Mt. Zion Chairwoman Jewel McDonald and The Occasion delivered by Mistie August.

The Mt. Zion Youth Group performed “Grateful” and “This Little Light of Mine,” as overhead lights dimmed and the group was illuminated by small handheld lights, earning a round of applause after their bows.

The youth also shared the history of the church burning, brief biographies of the three men, and read two letters: one written by Chaney and another by Schwerner’s widow, Rita Bender.

Mayor James A. Young read from John 3:16, and then the Rev. Eddie Hinton Sr. led a prayer. The congregation then sang “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”

Young was honored for his 16 years of service as Philadelphia’s mayor with a plaque of appreciation.

“You are many things to many people, and we honor your servant’s heart,” said Master of Ceremonies and District 5 Supervisor Obbie Riley. “I am a direct descendant of your legacy.”

Riley recognized Young’s long record of service as a paramedic, pastor, the first Black supervisor in Neshoba County, the city’s first Black mayor, a founding member of The Philadelphia Coalition, and a longtime supporter of the church.

The Philadelphia Coalition was established as a multiracial, community-based group on the 40th anniversary of the 1964 murders of the civil rights workers.

The Coalition played a pivotal role in reopening the case, which ultimately led to the prosecution and conviction of Edgar Ray Killen, a key perpetrator and local Klan leader, in 2005

The church held a candlelighting ceremony on Sunday and rang the bell in memory of the three civil rights workers, before Edna Steele performed a powerful solo of “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name.”

The congregation then sang “We Shall Overcome,” and several pastors and guests were recognized, including the Rev. Dayna Goff, the Rev. Johniel Henry Jr., and the Rev. Lynn Barker.

The ceremony concluded with a wreath-laying at the memorial in front of the church, reaffirming the congregation’s commitment to honoring the sacrifices of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner.