Categories: Free Speech | Race and Equal Opportunity
Earlier this week, Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana issued posthumous pardons to 78 residents who had been convicted on sedition charges for criticizing U.S. participation in World War I. It was a dreary time in Montana's history, and a dreary time for free speech in the United States as a whole. The symbolic act of Montana's governor can do absolutely nothing to restore the lives of those imprisoned under the harsh code, but the families of the law's victims can at least rest in the knowledge that the State of Montana no longer considers these Americans to be criminals.
There will be no such rest for the family of Mississippi's Clyde Kennard:
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Earlier this week, Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana issued posthumous pardons to 78 residents who had been convicted on sedition charges for criticizing U.S. participation in World War I. It was a dreary time in Montana's history, and a dreary time for free speech in the United States as a whole. The symbolic act of Montana's governor can do absolutely nothing to restore the lives of those imprisoned under the harsh code, but the families of the law's victims can at least rest in the knowledge that the State of Montana no longer considers these Americans to be criminals.
There will be no such rest for the family of Mississippi's Clyde Kennard:
Mr. Kennard moved home to Hattiesburg, Miss., after seven years in the Army in Germany and Korea and three years as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He wanted to finish his education at the local college.After multiple postponements, Mississippi's state parole board will finally meet later this month on whether or not to recommend that Governor Haley Barbour posthumously pardon Kennard. But before even hearing the parole board's recommendation, Barbour stated that he will never pardon Kennard. His explanation for this decision is less than compelling:
But because that college, Mississippi Southern, was reserved for whites, state officials not only rejected Mr. Kennard's repeated applications but also plotted to kill him.
They kept him out of college by convicting him of helping to steal $25 of chicken feed based on what the sole witness now says was perjury. The 1960 conviction drew a seven-year prison term, and Mr. Kennard died of cancer in 1963.
"The governor hasn't pardoned anyone, be it alive or deceased," said Mr. Barbour's spokesman, Pete Smith. "The governor isn't going to issue a pardon here" ...When running for governor in 2003, Barbour also refused to credibly explain his participation in the Council of Conservative Citizens, a white supremacist group, which still uses Barbour's name and photograph in its promotional materials--with the governor's blessing.
"The governor believes that Clyde Kennard was wronged, and if he were alive today his rights would be restored," Mr. Smith said. "There's nothing the governor can do for Clyde Kennard right now" ...
"Please," said Mona Ghadiri, 17, a senior at Stevenson High, addressing Governor Barbour, "if you are going to say no, at least give us a decent reason."
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Comments
It is very sad that America is ran off of racism, stupidity,and ignorance.It is time for blacks and all others that make up humanity to stand up for their rights.Remaining silent is just as bad as being a member of a hate group.Haley doesn’t care about minorities.He hasn’t given any donations to limit poverty among the poor.What is the purpose of acknowledging wrong if you won’t correct it? His actions are a stepping for future slavery.It won’t surprise me if confinement, bondage, and slavery become dominant and prevail like it has once before. Maybe,then, blacks will fight harder for freedom and justice.Many blacks have overlooked and taken for granted the pavements that many civil rights leaders have laid out before us. Someone must stand up and carry the torch that was left behind to light the nation and capitalize freedom and justice.The people have selected someone who represents the opposite of what the Constitution and Bill of Rights is suppose to stand for.Haley is not a true representation of the people.He only represents those who believe that “white is right” and for others “less is best.” In the beginning, he failed to fully fund education. Now that reelection is around the corner, he wants to change his mind. This is an eye-opener!!!He is looking for blacks’ votes as well as whites. I don’t see Haley helping those who are financially discouraged or the working middle class and poor. His actions speak louder than words. I guess he feels that every black that has been wrongfully accused of a crime by whites shall live the rest of his or her life in jail. How low down and dirty is that? Someone’s freedom has been deprived and forever takened.