JACKSON, Miss. – Three civil rights workers killed in Neshoba County in 1964 are among the 19 recipients of the nation’s highest civilian award.
President Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the families of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner at a ceremony at the White House Monday. “It’s interesting that it’s called the Medal of Freedom,” said Andrew Goodman’s brother David Goodman in a News Mississippi interview. “Because that’s what Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman were all about, and the 900 young adults who went to register people to vote – life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the right to vote.”
While Goodman will join the families of Chaney and Schwenre in DC to receive the honor on behalf of their loved ones, he said the award is really America’s reward. “Because their story is America’s story. It’s a story about two northerners and a southern, one black and whites who crossed the racial divide. It’s about two Jews and one Christian who joined hands, rich and poor people coming together for a common cause,” he explained. “It shows that while America is very diverse, we can do extraordinary things when we come together.”
Goodman said he hopes that the story reminds America that people lost their lives for the right to vote and none of those deaths should be in vain. “So we are focused on today. And I think it’s not a good sign that people are not interested enough to go and vote.”
Goodman said voter turnout across American this past November was the lowest since 1942. “Six out of 10 people who could have voted didn’t.” Goodman said that is a testament of the unfinished work of his brother and the others killed while fighting for all Americans to have and be able to exercise their right to vote.
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Follow reporter Iris Barnes on twitter: @newsMsIris
