[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I’m standing in the darkness with the
I’m standing in the darkness with the
I’m standing in the darkness with the murder of Medgar Evers Medgar Evers
murder of Medgar Evers Medgar Evers
murder of Medgar Evers Medgar Evers fought against the Nazis in Normandy
fought against the Nazis in Normandy
fought against the Nazis in Normandy returned home to Mississippi to fight
returned home to Mississippi to fight
returned home to Mississippi to fight racism all over again that barred
racism all over again that barred
racism all over again that barred african-americans from restaurants even
african-americans from restaurants even
african-americans from restaurants even restrooms and voting booths Medgar Evers
restrooms and voting booths Medgar Evers
restrooms and voting booths Medgar Evers was denied enrollment at University of
was denied enrollment at University of
was denied enrollment at University of Mississippi law school turned away from
Mississippi law school turned away from
Mississippi law school turned away from there and so he became field secretary
there and so he became field secretary
there and so he became field secretary for the n-double-a-cp in Mississippi
for the n-double-a-cp in Mississippi
for the n-double-a-cp in Mississippi nine years later after all that work
nine years later after all that work
nine years later after all that work that he had done on the same night that
that he had done on the same night that
that he had done on the same night that President Kennedy had told the nation
President Kennedy had told the nation
President Kennedy had told the nation that the grandsons of slaves were still
that the grandsons of slaves were still
that the grandsons of slaves were still not free Byron de la Beckwith murdered
not free Byron de la Beckwith murdered
not free Byron de la Beckwith murdered Medgar Evers outside his home Byron de
Medgar Evers outside his home Byron de
Medgar Evers outside his home Byron de la Beckwith was never convicted of this
la Beckwith was never convicted of this
la Beckwith was never convicted of this murder but he was convicted of trying to
murder but he was convicted of trying to
murder but he was convicted of trying to blow up the home of a Jewish leader New
blow up the home of a Jewish leader New
blow up the home of a Jewish leader New Orleans so I came to interview this as
Orleans so I came to interview this as
Orleans so I came to interview this as notorious assassin because I was
notorious assassin because I was
notorious assassin because I was obsessed uh you know when someone tells
obsessed uh you know when someone tells
obsessed uh you know when someone tells me I can’t have something I wanted a
me I can’t have something I wanted a
me I can’t have something I wanted a million times worse I mean are you guys
million times worse I mean are you guys
million times worse I mean are you guys that way right
that way right
that way right and so Mississippi had an organization
and so Mississippi had an organization
and so Mississippi had an organization called the Mississippi sovereignty
called the Mississippi sovereignty
called the Mississippi sovereignty Commission was a state segregationist
Commission was a state segregationist
Commission was a state segregationist spy agency from the 50s through the
spy agency from the 50s through the
spy agency from the 50s through the 1970s and it basically collected over
1970s and it basically collected over
1970s and it basically collected over one hundred thirty two thousand
one hundred thirty two thousand
one hundred thirty two thousand documents photographs by reports they
documents photographs by reports they
documents photographs by reports they even collected spy reports on Fannie Lou
even collected spy reports on Fannie Lou
even collected spy reports on Fannie Lou Hamer maybe not a surprise but this one
Hamer maybe not a surprise but this one
Hamer maybe not a surprise but this one will surprise you Elvis Presley and so
will surprise you Elvis Presley and so
will surprise you Elvis Presley and so anyway I when I find out that the
anyway I when I find out that the
anyway I when I find out that the Mississippi legislature had sealed all
Mississippi legislature had sealed all
Mississippi legislature had sealed all these spy records for 50 years my first
these spy records for 50 years my first
these spy records for 50 years my first thought was well there must be something
thought was well there must be something
thought was well there must be something in there
in there
in there or they wouldn’t be sealing them
or they wouldn’t be sealing them
or they wouldn’t be sealing them so I began to develop sources and access
so I began to develop sources and access
so I began to develop sources and access the files began to leet me the files and
the files began to leet me the files and
the files began to leet me the files and what they showed what the files show was
what they showed what the files show was
what they showed what the files show was at the same time that this state of
at the same time that this state of
at the same time that this state of Mississippi was prosecuting Byron de la
Mississippi was prosecuting Byron de la
Mississippi was prosecuting Byron de la Beckwith for killing Medgar Evers this
Beckwith for killing Medgar Evers this
Beckwith for killing Medgar Evers this other arm in the state the sovereignty
other arm in the state the sovereignty
other arm in the state the sovereignty Commission which is headed by the
Commission which is headed by the
Commission which is headed by the governor was secretly assisting the
governor was secretly assisting the
governor was secretly assisting the defense trying to get pickup acquitted
defense trying to get pickup acquitted
defense trying to get pickup acquitted and nobody knew that my story ran
and nobody knew that my story ran
and nobody knew that my story ran October the 1st 1989 at the time that my
October the 1st 1989 at the time that my
October the 1st 1989 at the time that my story ran the odds were literally more
story ran the odds were literally more
story ran the odds were literally more than a million to one against the case
than a million to one against the case
than a million to one against the case ever being reopened re prosecuted but
ever being reopened re prosecuted but
ever being reopened re prosecuted but Myrlie Evers delidio Medgar Evers
Myrlie Evers delidio Medgar Evers
Myrlie Evers delidio Medgar Evers believed and she prayed and some amazing
believed and she prayed and some amazing
believed and she prayed and some amazing things happen a couple months later
things happen a couple months later
things happen a couple months later Jackson Police are cleaning out a closet
Jackson Police are cleaning out a closet
Jackson Police are cleaning out a closet happened to find a box that contained a
happened to find a box that contained a
happened to find a box that contained a crime scene photographs of the killing
crime scene photographs of the killing
crime scene photographs of the killing of Medgar Evers including the
of Medgar Evers including the
of Medgar Evers including the fingerprint of Byron de la Beckwith
fingerprint of Byron de la Beckwith
fingerprint of Byron de la Beckwith lifted from the murder weapon a few
lifted from the murder weapon a few
lifted from the murder weapon a few months after that Murli ever shared with
months after that Murli ever shared with
months after that Murli ever shared with me her copy of the court transcripts she
me her copy of the court transcripts she
me her copy of the court transcripts she had saved in a safety deposit box and a
had saved in a safety deposit box and a
had saved in a safety deposit box and a few months after that the prosecutor in
few months after that the prosecutor in
few months after that the prosecutor in the case found the murder weapon in his
the case found the murder weapon in his
the case found the murder weapon in his father-in-law’s closet which sounds like
father-in-law’s closet which sounds like
father-in-law’s closet which sounds like I’m making it up but it all really
I’m making it up but it all really
I’m making it up but it all really happened so I decided to go interview
happened so I decided to go interview
happened so I decided to go interview Byron de la Beckwith he lived in Signal
Byron de la Beckwith he lived in Signal
Byron de la Beckwith he lived in Signal Mountain Tennessee this was April of
Mountain Tennessee this was April of
Mountain Tennessee this was April of 1990 went to interview him this is just
1990 went to interview him this is just
1990 went to interview him this is just outside of Chattanooga we spent about
outside of Chattanooga we spent about
outside of Chattanooga we spent about six hours talking he was you just spewed
six hours talking he was you just spewed
six hours talking he was you just spewed races have been hate for all six hours
races have been hate for all six hours
races have been hate for all six hours pretty much and it was dark and he
pretty much and it was dark and he
pretty much and it was dark and he insisted I like walking me out to my car
insisted I like walking me out to my car
insisted I like walking me out to my car and it was like that’s okay you know I
and it was like that’s okay you know I
and it was like that’s okay you know I think I can find my way to my car you
think I can find my way to my car you
think I can find my way to my car you know so he walked me out to the car
know so he walked me out to the car
know so he walked me out to the car anyway and gets me out there and all
anyway and gets me out there and all
anyway and gets me out there and all right just about when I’m getting ready
right just about when I’m getting ready
right just about when I’m getting ready to get into my car he blocks my way he
to get into my car he blocks my way he
to get into my car he blocks my way he says if you write positive things about
says if you write positive things about
says if you write positive things about white Caucasian Christians God will
white Caucasian Christians God will
white Caucasian Christians God will bless you if you write negative things
bless you if you write negative things
bless you if you write negative things about white Caucasian Christians God
about white Caucasian Christians God
about white Caucasian Christians God will punish you if God does not punish
will punish you if God does not punish
will punish you if God does not punish you directly several individuals will do
you directly several individuals will do
you directly several individuals will do it for him and so his wife and Mamie a
it for him and so his wife and Mamie a
it for him and so his wife and Mamie a sandwich
sandwich
sandwich I think you can guess what I did with a
I think you can guess what I did with a
I think you can guess what I did with a sandwich so Barney Lola Beckwith was
sandwich so Barney Lola Beckwith was
sandwich so Barney Lola Beckwith was indict in the case was brought back to
indict in the case was brought back to
indict in the case was brought back to Mississippi he fought extradition lost
Mississippi he fought extradition lost
Mississippi he fought extradition lost that fight he didn’t realize when I came
that fight he didn’t realize when I came
that fight he didn’t realize when I came and talked to him that I was the one
and talked to him that I was the one
and talked to him that I was the one that wrote the story that got the case
that wrote the story that got the case
that wrote the story that got the case reopened by now he’d figured it out and
reopened by now he’d figured it out and
reopened by now he’d figured it out and so he saw me across the court mrs.
so he saw me across the court mrs.
so he saw me across the court mrs. hairboy over there when he dies he’s
hairboy over there when he dies he’s
hairboy over there when he dies he’s going to Africa I turned to my friend
going to Africa I turned to my friend
going to Africa I turned to my friend and I’ve always wanted to go to Africa
and I’ve always wanted to go to Africa
and I’ve always wanted to go to Africa so Byron de la Beckwith was convicted of
so Byron de la Beckwith was convicted of
so Byron de la Beckwith was convicted of Medgar Evers murder in exact same
Medgar Evers murder in exact same
Medgar Evers murder in exact same courtroom
courtroom
courtroom he’d been tried thirty years earlier and
he’d been tried thirty years earlier and
he’d been tried thirty years earlier and when the word guilty rang out you could
when the word guilty rang out you could
when the word guilty rang out you could hear the waves of joy as they cascaded
hear the waves of joy as they cascaded
hear the waves of joy as they cascaded down the hall till it reached a
down the hall till it reached a
down the hall till it reached a four-year full of people black and white
four-year full of people black and white
four-year full of people black and white just erupted in shears and Myrlie Evers
just erupted in shears and Myrlie Evers
just erupted in shears and Myrlie Evers and her daughter Reena cheered as well
and her daughter Reena cheered as well
and her daughter Reena cheered as well and I just felt chills because the
and I just felt chills because the
and I just felt chills because the impossible had suddenly become possible
impossible had suddenly become possible
impossible had suddenly become possible not too long after Byron de la Beckwith
not too long after Byron de la Beckwith
not too long after Byron de la Beckwith was was arrested in that case I met with
was was arrested in that case I met with
was was arrested in that case I met with this woman her name is Ellie de Mer her
this woman her name is Ellie de Mer her
this woman her name is Ellie de Mer her husband is Vernon de Mer Vernon Dame was
husband is Vernon de Mer Vernon Dame was
husband is Vernon de Mer Vernon Dame was a farmer businessman entrepreneur
a farmer businessman entrepreneur
a farmer businessman entrepreneur believed in voting rights for everyone
believed in voting rights for everyone
believed in voting rights for everyone and fought for those the Klan didn’t
and fought for those the Klan didn’t
and fought for those the Klan didn’t like that attacked him and his family in
like that attacked him and his family in
like that attacked him and his family in the middle of the night January 10th
the middle of the night January 10th
the middle of the night January 10th 1966 it was a very cold night so the
1966 it was a very cold night so the
1966 it was a very cold night so the Klan set their house on fire he imagined
Klan set their house on fire he imagined
Klan set their house on fire he imagined his two o’clock in the morning you wake
his two o’clock in the morning you wake
his two o’clock in the morning you wake up houses on fire
up houses on fire
up houses on fire gun fires coming into the house Vernon
gun fires coming into the house Vernon
gun fires coming into the house Vernon de mer picked up a shotgun ran into the
de mer picked up a shotgun ran into the
de mer picked up a shotgun ran into the front of the house began firing back the
front of the house began firing back the
front of the house began firing back the Klansmen so his family could I say
Klansmen so his family could I say
Klansmen so his family could I say escaped safely out of back window
escaped safely out of back window
escaped safely out of back window unfortunately the flames of the fire
unfortunately the flames of the fire
unfortunately the flames of the fire serious lungs and he died later that day
serious lungs and he died later that day
serious lungs and he died later that day a few weeks later in the mail came his
a few weeks later in the mail came his
a few weeks later in the mail came his voter registration card
voter registration card
voter registration card he thought his whole life for the ride
he thought his whole life for the ride
he thought his whole life for the ride of all Americans available folk but
of all Americans available folk but
of all Americans available folk but never been about a caste about himself
never been about a caste about himself
never been about a caste about himself and this has had four sons in the
and this has had four sons in the
and this has had four sons in the military at the time and this is what
military at the time and this is what
military at the time and this is what they came home to find the guy who were
they came home to find the guy who were
they came home to find the guy who were the firebombing killing of Vernie de mer
the firebombing killing of Vernie de mer
the firebombing killing of Vernie de mer was this man is any was sam bowers
was this man is any was sam bowers
was this man is any was sam bowers sandbars of the head of the white
sandbars of the head of the white
sandbars of the head of the white knights of the ku klux klan response for
knights of the ku klux klan response for
knights of the ku klux klan response for at least a dozen killings we know of in
at least a dozen killings we know of in
at least a dozen killings we know of in Mississippi and Louisiana Bowers have
Mississippi and Louisiana Bowers have
Mississippi and Louisiana Bowers have been tried for Fernand Amber’s killing
been tried for Fernand Amber’s killing
been tried for Fernand Amber’s killing they’d never been convicted and so after
they’d never been convicted and so after
they’d never been convicted and so after the Vernon Damon family met with me
the Vernon Damon family met with me
the Vernon Damon family met with me they met with authorities the district
they met with authorities the district
they met with authorities the district attorney acted interested but then over
attorney acted interested but then over
attorney acted interested but then over time got cold feet and so in spring of
time got cold feet and so in spring of
time got cold feet and so in spring of 1997 it looked like I’d pretty much
1997 it looked like I’d pretty much
1997 it looked like I’d pretty much almost given up on the case I kept
almost given up on the case I kept
almost given up on the case I kept writing about it nothing ever happened
writing about it nothing ever happened
writing about it nothing ever happened and basically I got this call from this
and basically I got this call from this
and basically I got this call from this guy who wouldn’t give me his name but
guy who wouldn’t give me his name but
guy who wouldn’t give me his name but finally met with me and it turned out he
finally met with me and it turned out he
finally met with me and it turned out he had overheard Sam Bowers give the orders
had overheard Sam Bowers give the orders
had overheard Sam Bowers give the orders to kill Verna daily and so he came
to kill Verna daily and so he came
to kill Verna daily and so he came forward and met with authorities they
forward and met with authorities they
forward and met with authorities they reopened the case in earnest the guy who
reopened the case in earnest the guy who
reopened the case in earnest the guy who was was had turned state’s evidence back
was was had turned state’s evidence back
was was had turned state’s evidence back in the 60s was this man his name was
in the 60s was this man his name was
in the 60s was this man his name was Billy Roy Pitts he was involved in the
Billy Roy Pitts he was involved in the
Billy Roy Pitts he was involved in the killing dropped his gun got caught plead
killing dropped his gun got caught plead
killing dropped his gun got caught plead guilty to murder got a life sentence for
guilty to murder got a life sentence for
guilty to murder got a life sentence for that plead guilty federal charges got
that plead guilty federal charges got
that plead guilty federal charges got time for that and so I didn’t know if
time for that and so I didn’t know if
time for that and so I didn’t know if this guy was alive or dead or what you
this guy was alive or dead or what you
this guy was alive or dead or what you know what the situation was and so I got
know what the situation was and so I got
know what the situation was and so I got on the Internet I know where he was or
on the Internet I know where he was or
on the Internet I know where he was or whatever and I just literally typed in
whatever and I just literally typed in
whatever and I just literally typed in his name I didn’t know the city or state
his name I didn’t know the city or state
his name I didn’t know the city or state nothing and up at pump Billy Roy Pitts
nothing and up at pump Billy Roy Pitts
nothing and up at pump Billy Roy Pitts had his address Denham Springs Louisiana
had his address Denham Springs Louisiana
had his address Denham Springs Louisiana has telephone number so I called him
has telephone number so I called him
has telephone number so I called him first 20 minutes of the conversation
first 20 minutes of the conversation
first 20 minutes of the conversation went like this how’d you find me
went like this how’d you find me
went like this how’d you find me how’d you find me like it’s on the
how’d you find me like it’s on the
how’d you find me like it’s on the Internet
Internet
Internet near it I got listed telephone number
near it I got listed telephone number
near it I got listed telephone number him like I guess you have to talk to
him like I guess you have to talk to
him like I guess you have to talk to them so as a result of my story then he
them so as a result of my story then he
them so as a result of my story then he had never served a single day of his
had never served a single day of his
had never served a single day of his life sentence Mississippi authorities
life sentence Mississippi authorities
life sentence Mississippi authorities issued a warrant for his arrest he
issued a warrant for his arrest he
issued a warrant for his arrest he didn’t like that
didn’t like that
didn’t like that in fact he ran and while he was on the
in fact he ran and while he was on the
in fact he ran and while he was on the run he sent me this tape audiotape in
run he sent me this tape audiotape in
run he sent me this tape audiotape in the mail and I got it I’m playing this
the mail and I got it I’m playing this
the mail and I got it I’m playing this is how it began
is how it began
is how it began Jerry I just thought I’d let you know
Jerry I just thought I’d let you know
Jerry I just thought I’d let you know you’ve ruined my life
you’ve ruined my life
you’ve ruined my life but I promise if I talked anyway I
but I promise if I talked anyway I
but I promise if I talked anyway I talked to you so here’s the tape and on
talked to you so here’s the tape and on
talked to you so here’s the tape and on this tape he proceeds to tell me all
this tape he proceeds to tell me all
this tape he proceeds to tell me all those involvement killing Vernon Dam
those involvement killing Vernon Dam
those involvement killing Vernon Dam relevant involvements all this at the
relevant involvements all this at the
relevant involvements all this at the Klan violence so shortly after this he
Klan violence so shortly after this he
Klan violence so shortly after this he turn himself in to authorities and this
turn himself in to authorities and this
turn himself in to authorities and this leads to the arrest of sam bowers and
leads to the arrest of sam bowers and
leads to the arrest of sam bowers and also his right-hand guys name is deborah
also his right-hand guys name is deborah
also his right-hand guys name is deborah snicks and when the family brought
snicks and when the family brought
snicks and when the family brought Deborah’s Naik’s in it was like the most
Deborah’s Naik’s in it was like the most
Deborah’s Naik’s in it was like the most pitiful sight you’ve ever seen they like
pitiful sight you’ve ever seen they like
pitiful sight you’ve ever seen they like wheeled him in when the wheelchair and
wheeled him in when the wheelchair and
wheeled him in when the wheelchair and the oxygen tank and pulled him up in
the oxygen tank and pulled him up in
the oxygen tank and pulled him up in front of the judge and he’s like I can’t
front of the judge and he’s like I can’t
front of the judge and he’s like I can’t take more than a couple steps about
take more than a couple steps about
take more than a couple steps about needing oxygen judge she was like well I
needing oxygen judge she was like well I
needing oxygen judge she was like well I normally do do this but I’m gonna let
normally do do this but I’m gonna let
normally do do this but I’m gonna let you out without bond a dozen days later
you out without bond a dozen days later
you out without bond a dozen days later this is like a reporter’s dream this is
this is like a reporter’s dream this is
this is like a reporter’s dream this is where we caught him so he got arrested
yeah he loved me so fast-forward now Sam
yeah he loved me so fast-forward now Sam Bowers goes on trial and guess who’s
Bowers goes on trial and guess who’s
Bowers goes on trial and guess who’s there to testify on his behalf but
there to testify on his behalf but
there to testify on his behalf but Devers Nix and this is kind of a tricky
Devers Nix and this is kind of a tricky
Devers Nix and this is kind of a tricky situation because he’s charged with the
situation because he’s charged with the
situation because he’s charged with the same crime right and so and you know
same crime right and so and you know
same crime right and so and you know your Fifth Amendment right he is the
your Fifth Amendment right he is the
your Fifth Amendment right he is the self-incrimination you can claim it at
self-incrimination you can claim it at
self-incrimination you can claim it at any time if you’re testifying a court so
any time if you’re testifying a court so
any time if you’re testifying a court so he’s talking to his lawyer his lawyers
he’s talking to his lawyer his lawyers
he’s talking to his lawyer his lawyers trying to work out a signaling system
trying to work out a signaling system
trying to work out a signaling system win it so and his lawyers talking to him
win it so and his lawyers talking to him
win it so and his lawyers talking to him I happened to hear it it’s like now
I happened to hear it it’s like now
I happened to hear it it’s like now Devers when you get up there you need to
Devers when you get up there you need to
Devers when you get up there you need to take the fifth I’m gonna raise my hand
take the fifth I’m gonna raise my hand
take the fifth I’m gonna raise my hand raise me ever so okay so Deborah’s gets
raise me ever so okay so Deborah’s gets
raise me ever so okay so Deborah’s gets up there starts testifying looked over
up there starts testifying looked over
up there starts testifying looked over his lawyer about five minutes later
so Deborah’s kept right on testifying
so Deborah’s kept right on testifying yeah I was in the Klan they tried to put
yeah I was in the Klan they tried to put
yeah I was in the Klan they tried to put a positive spin on like there is one why
a positive spin on like there is one why
a positive spin on like there is one why the Klan was a benevolent organization
the Klan was a benevolent organization
the Klan was a benevolent organization passing out fruit baskets of the needy
passing out fruit baskets of the needy
passing out fruit baskets of the needy at Christmas
at Christmas
at Christmas so under cross-examination of prosecutor
so under cross-examination of prosecutor
so under cross-examination of prosecutor he said mr. Nix just how many fruit
he said mr. Nix just how many fruit
he said mr. Nix just how many fruit baskets did you pass out Endeavor says
baskets did you pass out Endeavor says
baskets did you pass out Endeavor says old said to say no I swear it’s the
old said to say no I swear it’s the
old said to say no I swear it’s the funniest trial I ever covered in my life
funniest trial I ever covered in my life
funniest trial I ever covered in my life as a reporter daily serious matter of a
as a reporter daily serious matter of a
as a reporter daily serious matter of a funny trial Bauer’s worse represent by
funny trial Bauer’s worse represent by
funny trial Bauer’s worse represent by this man is got my name is Travis
this man is got my name is Travis
this man is got my name is Travis Buckley on the right side here and
Buckley on the right side here and
Buckley on the right side here and Buckley was not just a lawyer for these
Buckley was not just a lawyer for these
Buckley was not just a lawyer for these Klan guys he was a leader in the Klan
Klan guys he was a leader in the Klan
Klan guys he was a leader in the Klan okay who’s also indicted for the
okay who’s also indicted for the
okay who’s also indicted for the firebombing a Verna de Mer
firebombing a Verna de Mer
firebombing a Verna de Mer and so he was questioning
and so he was questioning
and so he was questioning cross-examining Billy Roy Pitts about
cross-examining Billy Roy Pitts about
cross-examining Billy Roy Pitts about the planning me to place prior to the
the planning me to place prior to the
the planning me to place prior to the attack on Verna Damon his family he’s
attack on Verna Damon his family he’s
attack on Verna Damon his family he’s asking about that now how mr. Pitts who
asking about that now how mr. Pitts who
asking about that now how mr. Pitts who all dull held that planning meeting
all dull held that planning meeting
all dull held that planning meeting Pitts is like let’s see I was there
Pitts is like let’s see I was there
Pitts is like let’s see I was there Devers Nix was there Sam Barris well you
Devers Nix was there Sam Barris well you
Devers Nix was there Sam Barris well you were there and Buckley’s like Oh
were there and Buckley’s like Oh
were there and Buckley’s like Oh objection your honor
objection your honor
objection your honor yeah I’ve heard a lot of trials in my
yeah I’ve heard a lot of trials in my
yeah I’ve heard a lot of trials in my life as reporters only trial ever
life as reporters only trial ever
life as reporters only trial ever occurred we’re witness implicated the
occurred we’re witness implicated the
occurred we’re witness implicated the defense lawyer himself in the case so
defense lawyer himself in the case so
defense lawyer himself in the case so Sam Bowers was convicted August 24
Sam Bowers was convicted August 24
Sam Bowers was convicted August 24 1998 since the life in prison just like
1998 since the life in prison just like
1998 since the life in prison just like Byron de la Beckwith but here’s the
Byron de la Beckwith but here’s the
Byron de la Beckwith but here’s the thing the hate that caused this has
thing the hate that caused this has
thing the hate that caused this has never really gone away and not that long
never really gone away and not that long
never really gone away and not that long ago a young man college age right walked
ago a young man college age right walked
ago a young man college age right walked into this church and killed these non
into this church and killed these non
into this church and killed these non beautiful people before people hate they
beautiful people before people hate they
beautiful people before people hate they fear and before they fear they
fear and before they fear they
fear and before they fear they dehumanize give themselves permission
dehumanize give themselves permission
dehumanize give themselves permission really to destroy others you know
really to destroy others you know
really to destroy others you know whether you’re talking about
whether you’re talking about
whether you’re talking about figuratively or in this case literally
figuratively or in this case literally
figuratively or in this case literally you know I’ve been threatened dozens of
you know I’ve been threatened dozens of
you know I’ve been threatened dozens of times and yeah you know I had a Klansman
times and yeah you know I had a Klansman
times and yeah you know I had a Klansman say he was gonna slit my throat I’ve had
say he was gonna slit my throat I’ve had
say he was gonna slit my throat I’ve had another one say he had pictures of me
another one say he had pictures of me
another one say he had pictures of me and my family knew where he lived and
and my family knew where he lived and
and my family knew where he lived and obviously that’s disturbing and
obviously that’s disturbing and
obviously that’s disturbing and concerning but it led to an unexpected
concerning but it led to an unexpected
concerning but it led to an unexpected gift and that’s the gift of living
gift and that’s the gift of living
gift and that’s the gift of living fearlessly you know living fearlessly
fearlessly you know living fearlessly
fearlessly you know living fearlessly it’s not about living without fear
it’s not about living without fear
it’s not about living without fear living fearlessly is about living beyond
living fearlessly is about living beyond
living fearlessly is about living beyond fear living fiercely is about living for
fear living fiercely is about living for
fear living fiercely is about living for something greater than ourselves it’s as
something greater than ourselves it’s as
something greater than ourselves it’s as Martin Luther King said no one really
Martin Luther King said no one really
Martin Luther King said no one really knows why they’re alive until they know
knows why they’re alive until they know
knows why they’re alive until they know what they would die for is that true so
what they would die for is that true so
what they would die for is that true so far there have been 24 convictions in
far there have been 24 convictions in
far there have been 24 convictions in these civil rights cold cases but the
these civil rights cold cases but the
these civil rights cold cases but the most amazing thing has actually been
most amazing thing has actually been
most amazing thing has actually been some of the racial reconciliation not
some of the racial reconciliation not
some of the racial reconciliation not too long after Sam bowers was convicted
too long after Sam bowers was convicted
too long after Sam bowers was convicted biller Pitts testifying and hearing and
biller Pitts testifying and hearing and
biller Pitts testifying and hearing and when he got done he walked to the back
when he got done he walked to the back
when he got done he walked to the back of the courtroom and ran into mrs. Damon
of the courtroom and ran into mrs. Damon
of the courtroom and ran into mrs. Damon the widow of Vernon Dahmer and Billy
the widow of Vernon Dahmer and Billy
the widow of Vernon Dahmer and Billy Rockets apologized to mrs. Damer
Rockets apologized to mrs. Damer
Rockets apologized to mrs. Damer for killing her husband
for killing her husband
for killing her husband and asked her to forgive him and she
and asked her to forgive him and she
and asked her to forgive him and she forgave him and she began to cry and he
forgave him and she began to cry and he
forgave him and she began to cry and he began to cry and isn’t that what
began to cry and isn’t that what
began to cry and isn’t that what Redemption is all about trying to make
Redemption is all about trying to make
Redemption is all about trying to make things right even when they’ve gone so
things right even when they’ve gone so
things right even when they’ve gone so terribly wrong in the past may God bless
terribly wrong in the past may God bless
terribly wrong in the past may God bless you as you seek to live fearlessly thank
you as you seek to live fearlessly thank
you as you seek to live fearlessly thank you so much appreciate
”
Be First to Comment