Excerpts from the Files of the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, 1956-1977.

AP 21-MAR-98 With AM-Sovereignty's Victims, Bjt

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Excerpts from the files of the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, 1956-1977. The agency used tax dollars to operate a small army of agents and spies to keep tabs on groups and individuals thought to be threats to racial segregation.

"Looking at the whole picture of integration moves being made at the present time, I feel that some conclusions can be drawn. If we can keep down violence in the South at least on the part of our white population the violence will erupt in the North. This would cause many of the so-called civil-rightist politicians to crawl from their present position to one of neutrality, then to actual opposition." From a March 4, 1964, report by commission investigator John D. Sullivan.

"She is reportedly a divorcee and has had two children taken away from her by the state of California, since she was classed as an unfit mother. She is currently living with a colored male somewhere in the Mayes Street Project." Part of an undated report giving thumbnail sketches of workers in several Jackson-based civil rights organizations.

The man "spent most of the time during the day in his office but he had a bottle with him and would get drunk. This continued until November 30, 1966, when he was either fired or resigned." From a 1966 report, stamped "RESTRICTED," involving a suspected civil rights worker.

"I found out that at the present time he is out of a job and is drawing unemployment checks. One of the barbers said he is a woman-lover and no good, and that he does not even provide for his family. I was unable to locate where he lives." From an April 1, 1964, report filed by "Informant X" after visiting the Jones Barber Shop in Canton.

"After the investigation of Attorney General (J.P.) Coleman and the burning of the cross, Jefferson did not recirculate the petition." From an April 12, 1961, report on George Jefferson, a Vicksburg funeral home operator who had circulated a petition to integrate schools and had a cross burned in his yard. Files show that officials investigated the petition but not the cross burning.

On March 31, 1967, commission director Erle Johnston outlines plans to file a lawsuit that would force Washington, D.C., schools to desegregrate first, which he hopes will scare Congress toward favoring segregation "I don't know what would happen to such a case, but if it were well-publicized, I am sure it would shake up official Washington as well as the people in the larger cities."