Rita Schwerner Bender facts for kids
Rita Schwerner Bender, born in 1942, is an American lawyer and activist. She is known for her work during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1964, she and her first husband, Michael Schwerner, joined the Freedom Summer project. During this time, Michael was tragically killed by the Ku Klux Klan. As a young widow, Rita spoke out against unfair treatment based on race. After the Civil Rights Movement, she became a lawyer. She now practices family law in Washington state. Rita continues to work for civil rights through her legal work and public talks.
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Early Life and Activism
Rita Levant and Michael Schwerner grew up in New York City. They married when Rita was 20 years old. Both became involved in the Civil Rights Movement early on. They even faced arrest at a protest in Baltimore in 1963.
Working for Change in Mississippi
In January 1964, Rita and Michael Schwerner moved to Meridian, Mississippi. Rita worked as a teacher. They both helped at a freedom school and encouraged Black citizens to register to vote.
Freedom Summer and a Tragic Loss
The summer of 1964 was called "Freedom Summer." It was a big effort to help more Black people register to vote in the Southern states. Groups like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) led this important work.
Rita and Michael Schwerner were among 300 students who went to Mississippi. They wanted to help with the voting campaign. In June 1964, they learned that a church involved in the movement had been burned. Its leaders had also been hurt. Michael Schwerner, James Chaney (who was Black), and Andrew Goodman (who was white) drove to Neshoba County to investigate.
On June 21, the three men were stopped by a local deputy sheriff, Cecil Price. He arrested them for speeding and put them in jail. They were released late that night but were never seen again.
Rita Schwerner was in Ohio when she heard they were missing. Two days later, she learned their car had been found burned. She returned to Mississippi, staying in a safe place with guards. Rita spoke to President Johnson, urging the government to find the men. The FBI put up posters across the country.
Rita spoke to the media in Mississippi. She said it was sad that white people from the North had to face injustice. She believed that if James Chaney, a Black Mississippian, had been alone, his disappearance might have been ignored.
Soon, it was discovered that the three men had been killed by the Ku Klux Klan. Sheriff Price was connected to the Klan and had been involved. Three years later, Price was found guilty of their deaths. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Other Klan members were involved, but only a few were convicted.
Justice for the Killings
In 2005, 41 years after the killings, another person involved, Edgar Ray Killen, was found guilty. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Rita testified at his trial. She said that while the conviction was important, Killen should have been found guilty of murder. She felt that some people in the state still chose to ignore the truth.
Continuing the Fight for Rights
After Michael's death, Rita stayed in Mississippi. She continued her civil rights work with the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. She helped challenge the all-white Mississippi group at the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City. She testified before a committee, with Freedom Democratic Party members standing with her.
Education and Law Career
Rita Schwerner earned her college degree from Queens College in New York City. She then decided to study law. In 1965, she attended Rutgers School of Law in New Jersey. She graduated in 1968, three years after her husband's death. She was one of only five women in her graduating class of 150 students. While at Rutgers, she met her second husband, William J. Bender.
Rita Schwerner Bender now works as a private family lawyer in Washington State. She helps families with issues like adoption and assisted reproduction. She also works on professional ethics and helps people who cannot afford legal help.
Bender remains active in civil rights. She gives talks on topics like "Searching for Restorative Justice: The Trial of Edgar Ray Killen." She also speaks about "Racial Disparity in Education and State Action." She has written articles about her legal work, including guides for gay and lesbian parents on surrogacy.
