Chasing Shadows Chasing Shadows Chapter 5 The Blood of Martyrs
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Dec 14, 2023 
Stuart Wexler, an author and historian specializing in religious terrorism in the U.S., dives deep into the dark history of extremist movements. He discusses the critical role of CORE and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party during the Civil Rights era. Wexler highlights the sinister tactics of Sam Bowers and the Klan, including the Mount Zion Church arson to lure activists. He also uncovers the complicity of Sheriff Lawrence Rainey in the notorious Mississippi murders and explores the alarming escalation of violence leading to federal involvement.
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The Kidnapping And Murder Sequence
- Cheney, Goodman, and Schwerner were arrested, forced off the road, taken to woods, and executed by Klan members.
- Their burnt car was left to be found while bodies were buried in a preplanned site to delay discovery.
Why This Case Drew National Attention
- The presence of two white Jewish victims made the case gain national attention and presidential involvement.
- Their disappearance forced Lyndon Johnson to prioritize a federal FBI task force to locate them.
Federal Search Exposed Hidden Killings
- The FBI’s search uncovered many previously unreported Black victims in swamps and lakes.
- Routine local dismissals of disappearances hid extensive racial violence until federal probes forced recovery.
