Cold Civil Rights Cases

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has recently canvassed its field offices for the first time, compiling a list of 51 victims in 39 civil rights cases of the 1950s and 60s, most of which were never investigated by the bureau. And the reason for this is that time is running out because potential witnesses and suspects are dying off.

"Alvin Sykes, a civil rights advocate who has urged the federal government to pass the Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Bill, which would provide $11.5 million per year to investigate these cases, said part of that money would be used to encourage people scared into silence at the time to come forward. “We have absolutely no idea how many of them are out there,” Mr. Sykes said.

Sykes, president of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign based in Kansas City was also instrumental in helping to reopen the Emmett Till case (JET, May 31, 2004).

Read more about Alvin Sykes.who's gettin' it done.

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Martin Luther King Day

Thousands pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Updated Mon. Jan. 15 2007 12:10 PM ET

Associated Press

ATLANTA -- From the pulpit of the church where Martin Luther King Jr. once was pastor, Atlanta's mayor reminded the congregation Monday that his work for peace and justice remains unfinished.

Mayor Shirley Franklin admonished congregants at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church not to pay tribute to King's dream on his birthday, observed as a national holiday Monday, and then contradict it the next.

"Millions can't find jobs, have no health insurance and struggle to make ends meet, working minimum wage jobs. What's going on?" she said, repeating a refrain from soul singer Marvin Gaye.

Read the full article here.

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