Republican Senator Coburn Blocks Bill That Would Bring Justice

Yesterday (the 21st of June) was the anniversary of two important events in Mississippi history.

The first was that of the kidnapping and murder of Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner in Philadelphia, Mississippi. They were killed while working for civil rights in 1964

The second (and one we Mississippians are a lot more proud of) is that of the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen for those crimes in 2005.

On that day (yesterday) the United State Senate was to have passed a bill providing funding for quickly revisiting many of the old civil rights murders. There is an urgency because many of the witnesses are now dying off and the work needs to be done now or never.

After passing in the House of Representatives 422-2 with the entire Mississippi delegation supporting, Senator Tom Coburn announced that he will place a hold on the bill citing his concern for the cost (Roughly $10 million).

Isn't it worth the cost to finally bring justice?

Isn't it worth the cost to demonstrate again and again how far we have come as a country where we refuse to tolerate that someone can get away with murder based on the skin color who they murdered?

You can call Senator Coburn and ask him to release his hold at (202) 224-5754.

If this bill is allowed to come to the Senate it will easily pass.