New York Times

The events leading up to and after the murders of Michael Schwener, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, are told through the many articles that were published. By looking at the stories in the New York Times, we can see how the tension and violence slowly built up prior to the murders and what exactly happened afterward, as well.


Framing of the KKK


The Times frames the Ku Klux Klan as more of a militant army. It shows them as a guerilla type force that is not supposed to act in the daytime hours, but is supposed to carry out their acts of violence and murder in the night. They also quote many of the Klan leaders as saying that they are fighting against our 'Communist Government', and that civil rights activists are 'invading' Mississippi. You can see how the New York Times journalists are framing the Klan as radicals that should not be supported. The Klan is described as being a "Bizarre Phenomenon", and anti-American. Even though the information is factual, the Times seemed to make it their agenda to dissuade support for the Ku Klux Klan.
Mississippi Klan Feared a Civil Rights 'Invasion'
A Stranger in Philadelphia Mississippi


Framing of Mississippi


Even the state of Mississippi was framed as "racially disturbed", or the "Horror ridden State" by The Times. If you had never visited Mississippi before, you would think that it was nothing but a backwoods, racist war zone. When in reality, there were many people that lived there that thought the same way about racial equality as the people who lived in the northern states. In one article, a pastor in Philadelphia, MS refers to his town as Sodom. This is in reference to the sin-filled biblical city that God destroyed due to its wickedness. It almost seems that The Times is looking to place this image into its reader's heads. There were many articles published to show the violence of Mississippi, and this, of course made people who have never been to Mississippi, frame the state in a negative light.
Mississippi Town Likened to Sodom
A Fair in Mississippi


Framing of the Disappearance of the Activists


As the case progressed, The Times repeatedly reported that the Neshoba County Police were the last people to see the boys alive. It seems that even from early on,  The New York Times seemed to frame the local police force in Neshoba of wrong doing. It could have been from factual FBI information that The Times reporters were receiving that led to this assumption early on, but it still framed the Neshoba County police as the ones at fault for the disappearance of Michael Schwener, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman.
2 of Missing Men Feared for Lives
Mississippi Hunt for 3 is Widened


Framing of the FBI


In The Times articles, it showed how many thought the FBI was running slow and not solving the case fast enough. They had little patience with the FBI, according to The Times. It took a while for the FBI to solve the case, even though there was a considerable amount of pressure from Hoover, the director of the FBI. The Times titles depict that the court systems were frustrated with the data the FBI presented on the case.  Also illustrated was how the FBI did not work alone in solving the case. The state of Mississippi was concerned with the three missing civil rights workers and was actually very involved in the solving of the case. The FBI and Mississippi worked together in the solving case of the murdered civil rights workers.
Mississippi Keeps Autopsies Secret
Mississippi Jury Opens Inquiry Without FBI Data on Slayings
Mississippi Jury Critical of F.B.I.


Articles:
Went Into State to Enroll Voters
US Officials Warn Mississippi Bound Students
'Tipoff' Message Held Valueless
The Other Philadelphia: Mississippi Town Preserves Racism
Southern Offers $500 in Mississippi Mystery
President Vows Quick Results in Mississippi Slaying Inquiry
President Sends 200 Sailors to Aid
Mississippi Visit Ended by Hoover
Mississippi Rights Slaying is Being Reconstructed Arrests Awaited
Mississippi Force Expanded by F.B.I.
Mississippi Civil Rights Slaying Is Expected to Go to Jury
Mississippi Calls Jury in Slaying
Mississippi Bars Rights Trial Now
Jury in Mississippi Returns Indictments in 2 Rights Slayings
Horror in Mississippi
Hope Fades for 3 in Mississippi Unless Someone in Know Talks
Experts Identify Mississippi Bodies as Rights Aides
Civil-Rights-Drive-Alters-Mississippi
C.B.S. Newsman Accuses Mississippi White of Attack
Aide in Mississippi Complains of F.B.I.
400 Sailors Hunt 3 in Mississippi
Klan Convictions in Killings Upheld
2 of Missing Men Feared for Lives