When the KKK Murdered My Childhood Friend - Robert Reich

[Rhiannon12866]

As the shortest kid in school, I was an easy target for bullies. When I was about eight, I befriended a kind teenager who looked out for me. 60 years ago, he was murdered by the Klan for registering Black voters in Mississippi. Let me tell you about my friend, Mickey. - 06/18/2024.

[BaronChocula]

1. Neshoba County

Remember that as the county where The Three were murdered. And remember it as the county where republican candidate Ronald Reagan went to give a speech on "states' rights" in 1980. It was a heinous anti-tribute to three men who were murdered for defending the Constitution. Ronald Reagan made himself a party to those murders and an ally of the murderers.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. As soon as he said "Philadelphia, Mississippi" I knew

My 9th grade Social Studies teacher taught us a great deal about the Civil Rights Movement and so much comes back to me when I hear certain statements like this. And I also remember that very city was where Reagan began his presidential campaign - signaling his support for "states' rights" which caused Jimmy Carter to lose the South. And I was a little shocked when I heard Robert Reich say those words since this was a terrible and historic murder. And I certainly agree with you, Ronald Reagan was culpable - and not for the last time.

[electric_blue68]

4. I remember Ray-gun making that his first stop!

[electric_blue68]

5. It's kind of shocking to find out Prof Reich knew him!

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I know! I cannot imagine how shocking - and heartbreaking - it must have been for Robert Reich!

[electric_blue68]

8. Absolutely! Like a piece of hideous, heineous history suddenly emotionally smacking you like a 2 by 4!

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Exactly. It must have taken him a long time to be able to talk about it.

[electric_blue68]

3. I might have missed the Philadelphia, Miss reference but as soon as he said Schwerner - omg! I knew!

[Rhiannon12866]

9. How shocking and heartbreaking it must have been for him since this kind guy befriended him as a young kid

Now that we know his background, befriending a vulnerable young kid, it's even more of a tragedy.

[electric_blue68]

13. It's sometimes so astonishing whether for wonderful, or terrible outcomes how decisions, fate....

sometimes connects us together.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Agreed, and I cannot imagine how devastating this was for Robert Reich to learn, and it had to be a tough story to tell

[electric_blue68]

7. Another amazing thing to me bc I tend to think of him in sort of "American Pastorial" terms but Norman Rockwell did a...

painting of that event. It's powerful, and shocking!

[MagaSmash]

11. and what about that Orange Bully with the mouth that never stops.

[Wuddles440]

12. Powerful message!

The DNC should run this as an ad.