Did others see the HC show on '79 Greensboro massacre?

[0rganism]

Caught it this morning by chance whilst channel surfing. I was 10 years old in 1979, living in New Mexico, and knew NOTHING about this event at the time. Yet I gather it received national coverage; does anyone else recall how the national media approached the story as it happened?

I was unaware of just how much of the attacks were recorded on videotape, and it was refreshing to hear from the prosecutor regarding the fact that the ballistic evidence clearly showed the KKK opening fire first. I'm not sure why the documentary was broadcast as part of the "history's mysteries" series, as the only mysteries I could find (whether the cops were complicit or disturbingly negligent, and why even the whitest jury would buy the Klan's "self defense" argument) were dismissed by the documentary's experts as conspiracy and/or "just the way things are."

Nonetheless, it was a welcome change of pace from a network that usually fits its broadcasts squarely in the pocket of the war machine afficionados.

(For those who didn't know, in November 1979, the Klan and the Nazis got together to bust up a Communist Workers' Party anti-klan rally in a black neighborhood of Greensboro, NC. They drove into the middle of the pre-rally organizing and opened fire on the CWP, killing 5 and injuring 11.)

[StandWatie]

1. I saw something on Discovery

same topic but I was shocked at just how much they went out of their way to try and hint around that the protesters had sort of picked a fight with the Klan and though it wasn't said in so many words I get left with the feeling that the narrator sort of thought they got what they had coming.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

2. I have lived in NC my whole life

and had never heard of this until i saw the same show by accident a month or so ago. I am 26 now. I was completely suprised that something like that happened and that i never heard about it all. it was awful.

[HFishbine]

3. Was living in Greensboro

when it happened. But I was young so I don't exactly remember the extent of the news coverage at that time, although I do remember that it did receive national coverage.

The mayor at the time it happened has since referred to it as "Greensboro's finest hour" (presumably because the city remained calm).

There was a lot of confusion for years about what really happened. Allegations included the presence of an FBI informant in the Nazi group and complicity on behalf of the police department.

Many now feel that this should be left in the past, including the current mayor who said it is an event that most in the city "want to put behind us," even though he ackowledges that juctice was probably not served. (http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/917613.asp?0sl=-12&cp1=1)

Others however believe that the issue can never be completely put to rest until the truth is known. To that end, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been established. It is modeled after the one that was established after the end of aparthied in South Africa and is the first such effort in the U.S.

You can learn about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission here: http://www.gtcrp.org/

[Abbalon]

4. I live near

Greenboro and worked with people who lived there. Those Union people were murderd in cold blood and the Nazi's and KKK were let free. Two boys I grew up with were part of the Klan Klavern from Lexington, NC that attacked and murdered those activist.

Where was the outrage then? Where is the outrage now? The Greensboro Police charged with protecting the Marchers dliberately allowed the Nazis into the cordoned area in five automobiles filled with weapons.

The government of the State of North Carolina has blood on their hands for allowing Conservative, KKK, Nazi dogma a promenint place in the Court Room.

The Jury has blood on its hands for ignoring cupability of the Grensboro Police.

I have blood on my hands for not going to war agianst the Rightwing sooner than I did. God have mercy on my soul for not standing in the Breach then.

I will never lay down the sword of truth to compromise with gutless Nazis, Klansmen or Republicans ever again.

The information surrounding the event did not come out completely at the trail. And during and after the trial my childhood freinds carried autopsy pictures of the slain for trophies. These Trophies are still around the Redneck woods of Lexington.

You people have heard of Sheriff Hege, the Sheriff of Davidson County. Those were Hege supporters who murdered the activist in Greensboro. Davidson County does not recognize the Martin Luther King Holiday.

I belonged to the AFL/CIO at the time. My own Union supported Reagan and stood in silence during the trial of those who murdered our Union Brothers who were organizing the Labor workers parade.