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The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: A Dark Chapter in American History

Robin Powell

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Published in The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights And States Rights

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The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission (MSSC) was a state agency that existed from 1956 to 1977. Its primary purpose was to suppress the civil rights movement in Mississippi and to maintain white supremacy.

The MSSC was created by the Mississippi Legislature in 1956, in response to the growing civil rights movement. The commission was given broad powers to investigate any activity that might threaten the "sovereignty" of Mississippi, which in practice meant any effort to desegregate the state.

The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights and States' Rights

by Yasuhiro Katagiri

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The MSSC was led by a board of 12 members, all of whom were appointed by the governor. The board was chaired by the governor himself. The commission had a staff of investigators who were responsible for carrying out its mission. .

The MSSC used a variety of methods to suppress the civil rights movement. These methods included:

Intimidation and harassment of civil rights activists
Infiltration of civil rights organizations
Economic blacklisting
Legal prosecution of civil rights activists
Violence, including murder

The MSSC was responsible for a number of violent attacks on civil rights activists, including the assassination of Medgar Evers in 1963. The commission also played a role in the Freedom Summer campaign of 1964, during which a number of civil rights workers were killed or beaten.

The MSSC was finally disbanded in 1977, after a federal court ruled that it was unconstitutional. The commission's records were sealed until 2014, when they were finally made public.

The MSSC was a dark chapter in American history. It was a state agency that was dedicated to suppressing the civil rights movement and maintaining white supremacy. The commission's activities caused great harm to civil rights activists and their families, and its legacy continues to cast a shadow over Mississippi today.

## The MSSC and the Civil Rights Movement

The MSSC was created in response to the growing civil rights movement in Mississippi. The movement was led by a number of organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE),and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

The MSSC saw the civil rights movement as a threat to the "sovereignty" of Mississippi. The commission believed that desegregation would lead to a loss of white control over the state. As a result, the MSSC used a variety of methods to suppress the movement.

One of the MSSC's primary methods of suppression was intimidation and harassment. The commission's investigators would often follow civil rights activists around, take their photographs, and threaten them with violence. The MSSC also infiltrated civil rights organizations, in order to gather information and disrupt their activities.

In addition to intimidation and harassment, the MSSC also used economic blacklisting to suppress the civil rights movement. The commission would pressure businesses to fire civil rights activists or to refuse to do business with them. The MSSC also used its influence to get civil rights activists fired from their jobs.

The MSSC also used legal prosecution to suppress the civil rights movement. The commission would often file lawsuits against civil rights activists, in order to tie them up in court and prevent them from continuing their work. The MSSC also worked with local law enforcement to arrest and jail civil rights activists.

In some cases, the MSSC resorted to violence to suppress the civil rights movement. The commission was responsible for a number of violent attacks on civil rights activists, including the assassination of Medgar Evers in 1963. The MSSC also played a role in the Freedom Summer campaign of 1964, during which a number of civil rights workers were killed or beaten.

## The Legacy of the MSSC

The MSSC was finally disbanded in 1977, after a federal court ruled that it was unconstitutional. The commission's records were sealed until 2014, when they were finally made public.

The MSSC's legacy is a dark one. The commission was a state agency that was dedicated to suppressing the civil rights movement and maintaining white supremacy. The commission's activities caused great harm to civil rights activists and their families, and its legacy continues to cast a shadow over Mississippi today.

The MSSC is a reminder of the dangers of racism and intolerance. It is a reminder that we must never allow ourselves to be divided by hatred and fear. We must work together to create a more just and equitable society for all.

## Images

Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Homepage The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights And States Rights

Medgar Evers Memorial, Jackson, MS The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights And States Rights

## Further Reading

* [The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: A History of Racial Violence and Intimidation](https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/mississippi-state-sovereignty-commission) * [The MSSC: A Tool of White Supremacy](https://www.mdah.ms.gov/about-us/press-room/state-historical-museum-to-host-exhibit-the-mississippi-state-sovereignty-commission-a-tool-of-white-supremacy) * [The MSSC: A Dark Chapter in Mississippi History](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2019/06/13/mississippi-state-sovereignty-commission-dark-chapter-history/1442374001/)

The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights and States' Rights

by Yasuhiro Katagiri

4.7 out of 5