IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 362 

Commending the Philadelphia Coalition for its principled, open, and integrated 

approach to eradicating racism and intolerance, and for its determination 

to confront the past and work toward the future. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 14, 2005 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of 

Texas, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. 

THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. 

WATT, and Mr. WICKER) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Commending the Philadelphia Coalition for its principled, 

open, and integrated approach to eradicating racism and 

intolerance, and for its determination to confront the 

past and work toward the future. 

Whereas on June 21, 1964, three Civil Rights workers—Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner— 

came to Neshoba County, to investigate the burning of 

Mount Zion Baptist Church, in Longdale, Mississippi; 

Whereas the 3 men were pulled over in Philadelphia, Mississippi and thrown into jail, then released and ordered 

to leave town; 
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•HRES 362 IH 

Whereas the Civil Rights workers were subsequently chased 

down and murdered by a mob of Ku Klux Klansmen; 

Whereas Edgar Ray Killen was a member of the Ku Klux 

Klan and orchestrated the murders; 

Whereas Edgar Ray Killen was tried for the murders and acquitted by an all-white jury in 1967 when one juror refused to convict Mr. Killen because he was a preacher; 

Whereas Mr. Killen remained free for 41 years following the 

murder without further prosecution; 

Whereas in March, 2005, a task force of city, county, and 

tribal leaders formed the Philadelphia Coalition, charged 

with ‘‘helping to plan the public commemoration [of the 

June 21, 1964 murders], to study an appropriate public 

memorial to the civil rights workers in Neshoba County, 

and to establish a perpetual structure that would foster 

racial harmony and reconciliation’’; 

Whereas the Philadelphia Coalition is multiracial, comprised 

of white, black, and Choctaw Indian men and women; 

Whereas the Philadelphia Coalition advocated strongly for, 

and was instrumental in, the reopening of the trial of 

Edgar Ray Killen in Philadelphia, Mississippi; 

Whereas Edgar Ray Killen was retried and convicted on 3 

counts of manslaughter on June 21, 2005; 

Whereas members of the Philadelphia Coalition have created 

a sense of openness and respect for one another and for 

the community at large; 

Whereas the Philadelphia Coalition’s efforts and successes 

have led to a large groundswell of support and unity from 

the Neshoba County populace; and 
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•HRES 362 IH 

Whereas the work of the Philadelphia Coalition serves as an 

example for racial tolerance and ethnic understanding not 

only in Mississippi, but throughout the United States: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) applauds the Philadelphia Coalition’s com3 mitment to active integration and inclusion of all 

4 races, genders, and ethnicities in the face of a crime 

5 that arose from intolerance and exclusion; 

6 (2) commends the Philadelphia Coalition for 

7 proving that it is never too late for justice to be 

8 served; and 

9 (3) commends the commitment and determina10 tion of the diverse members of the Philadelphia Coa11 lition to come together for the common aims of jus12 tice, dialogue, and progress in the face of adversity. 

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