South

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Inspired by her love of William Faulkner and James Baldwin, renowned director Chantal Akerman had planned to produce a meditation on the American South. However, just days before she was to begin filming, James Byrd, Jr. was murdered in Jasper, Texas. A black family man, Byrd has been severely beaten by three white men, chained to their truck, and dragged three miles through predominately black parts of the county.

This racially motivated killing shook the country, and revealed the intense hate that still lies just beneath the surface of our society. Instead of following the story in a typical American media fashion, Akerman allows the story to slowly unfold on its own. Long, panning shots set the stage, creating the world of Jasper. Patient interviews reveal the thoughts and emotions of the local townspeople. Akerman's access to their lives, including being allowed to film Byrd's funeral, allows her to tell the tale in a pensive and beautiful fashion.

Alternating static shots and dolly shots, Akerman reconstitutes the horrible incident. "We found pieces of his body all along the road," says one witness. But this is not an anatomy of his murder, nor the autopsy of a black man lynched by three white males. Rather, it is an evocation of how this event fits in to a landscape and climate that is as much mental as physical.

Akerman writes, "How does the southern silence become so heavy and so menacing so suddenly? How do the trees and the whole natural environment evoke so intensely death, blood, and the weight of history? How does the present call up the past? And how hoes this past, with a mere gesture or a simple regard, haunt and torment you as you wander along an empty cotton field, or a dusty country road?"

"Conjures the ghosts of the hate crimes and lynchings that have plagued that part of the U.S. for decades. [SOUTH] makes its sorrowful points succinctly."—Variety

"Comparable in force and originality to Godard or Fassbinder, Chantal Akerman is arguably the most important European director of her generation."—J. Hoberman, The Village Voice

"The films of Chantal Akerman are the single most important and coherent body of work by a woman director in the history of the cinema."—The Film Center Gazette, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

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Main credits

Akerman, Chantal (filmmaker)

Other credits

Image, Raymond Fromont; montage, Claire Atherton.

MARC Record See Worldcat record

Keywords

Chantal Akerman; Akerman; film ; video; documentary; Faulkner; Baldwin; James Byrd, Jr; James Byrd; Jasper; Texas; lynching; white supremacy; South; "South"; Icarus Films; "South"; Icarus Films,doc; history; sociss

WEBVTT

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[BIRDS CHIRPING, INSECTS
HUMMING]

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[EQUIPMENT BUZZING]

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[INSECTS HUMMING]

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It has changed a whole
lot since my time.

00:06:47.570 --> 00:06:50.990 align:middle line:90%

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Back when in my time, coming
up like these children here,

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we had to do old hard slaving
work for the white people

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because we didn\'t
have, you know,

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the choice because we
lived in their houses.

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And they just took full
control of us, I would say.

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They took control of us because
we lived in their houses.

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But once the black
people woke up

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and went to doing
stuff for themself,

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they couldn\'t do us like
they once had did us.

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They come to their senses.

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See?

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We would be sitting
like this evening.

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We\'d be sitting out
in their houses,

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just sitting out
talking or something.

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One may drive up in the yard
and tell you to come on,

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go down there and
go haul some hay--

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Sunday evening.

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But that just the way it was.

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So today, it\'s not like that.

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They can\'t come up
now and say, come on,

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and go out here and get on this
truck to go to the hayfield

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because we are in our home.

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Back in 1966, over on the Jones
place was where y\'all were

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today, that church on down the
road from there was a wall,

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just was a settlement of
black people lived over there.

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But they was on a
white man\'s plantation,

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and they had to do what he said.

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But when the Civil Right
Movement came into the county,

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that made a whole
big difference.

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They didn\'t come up, and
they didn\'t have the nerve

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to come up face to
face and tell you,

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you had to get out
of their houses.

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They would go home
and write you a letter

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and give you so many
days to be gone,

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and would tell you
on that letter,

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I want my house for hay--

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you is no longer needed.

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That\'s the way they did us.

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Water in the wells,
which is free,

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they didn\'t even want us to
get water from their wells.

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We had to go down through
the woods and ditches, what

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you called a spring, and
drank water from the spring.

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That\'s the way the
white people did here

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in these parts of the country.

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But it\'s better now.

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People had to go to work
before day, milking cows

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to try to survive to have
food for their children

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and their families,
before day in the morning.

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It was so cold outside.

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You didn\'t need to be out there.

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But we had that to do.

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But now, we don\'t
have that to do.

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We live in these houses now.

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They may not be much,
but they are ours.

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And we won\'t walk
out there-- we don\'t

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walk outside and see a sign
saying for sale, you got to go.

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So I feel good over it.

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I feels good.

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[SINGING INSIDE CHURCH]

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[INTERPOSING VOICES]

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[WHISTLING]

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All the way.

00:12:11.394 --> 00:14:05.480 align:middle line:90%

00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.000 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE]

00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.770 align:middle line:90%
Ain\'t no filming, man.

00:14:08.770 --> 00:14:09.400 align:middle line:90%
Don\'t do that.

00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:37.843 align:middle line:90%

00:14:37.843 --> 00:14:39.339 align:middle line:90%
Hey, what\'s up?

00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:39.839 align:middle line:90%
Hey.

00:14:39.839 --> 00:15:34.729 align:middle line:90%

00:15:34.729 --> 00:15:36.226 align:middle line:90%
Hey, [INAUDIBLE].

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I see y\'all down here
[INAUDIBLE] ride home.

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[INAUDIBLE]

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[INSECTS HUMMING]

00:16:02.174 --> 00:16:54.210 align:middle line:90%

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I think it was approximately
2 to 3 o\'clock in the morning,

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and I was looking at a Western
channel-- all Western channel.

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And I heard a lot of noise.

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And I told my son to go up
and look, and see what it is.

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And he went back to sleep.

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So by that time, I
looked out the window,

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and I saw a truck
going up the road.

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And it was weaving back
and forth across the road.

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I said, well, that\'s
someone that\'s on a flat.

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And so I went on back to sleep.

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I mean, I finished looking at
the Western and went to sleep.

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And that morning, I got up.

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That\'s when all the
law was out here.

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That\'s when they found the body.

00:17:33.150 --> 00:19:02.920 align:middle line:90%

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On June 7 of this year, we
got word here at \"The Newsboy\"

00:19:10.450 --> 00:19:16.990 align:middle line:84%
that there had been a black
man dragged to death by three

00:19:16.990 --> 00:19:20.650 align:middle line:84%
white males and that
apparently the crime

00:19:20.650 --> 00:19:24.810 align:middle line:90%
had been racially motivated.

00:19:24.810 --> 00:19:27.640 align:middle line:84%
We soon confirmed that
fact through the Sheriff\'s

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:29.950 align:middle line:90%
department here.

00:19:29.950 --> 00:19:33.770 align:middle line:90%
And by Monday morning--

00:19:33.770 --> 00:19:37.360 align:middle line:84%
June 7 was on a Sunday--
and then by Monday morning,

00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:41.650 align:middle line:84%
the police had the three men
suspected of it in custody

00:19:41.650 --> 00:19:44.090 align:middle line:90%
and arrested.

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It wasn\'t long
after that that we

00:19:48.670 --> 00:19:50.365 align:middle line:90%
discovered the name of the man.

00:19:50.365 --> 00:19:53.980 align:middle line:84%
His name was James
Byrd, Jr. of Jasper.

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He was a man well known around
town for walking around.

00:20:00.727 --> 00:20:02.560 align:middle line:84%
He didn\'t have a car
or vehicle or anything.

00:20:02.560 --> 00:20:06.730 align:middle line:84%
And he usually walked
everywhere he went.

00:20:06.730 --> 00:20:10.330 align:middle line:84%
Apparently, according
to the Sheriff later on,

00:20:10.330 --> 00:20:16.570 align:middle line:84%
the three men picked Mr.
Byrd up on Highway 96 North,

00:20:16.570 --> 00:20:19.930 align:middle line:90%
somewhere near the Ramada Inn--

00:20:19.930 --> 00:20:23.110 align:middle line:84%
or no, the Holiday Inn
Express, excuse me--

00:20:23.110 --> 00:20:27.490 align:middle line:84%
picked him up, took him to
a remote location, where

00:20:27.490 --> 00:20:33.340 align:middle line:84%
they took him out of the
truck, beat him, and then

00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:36.190 align:middle line:84%
chained him to the
back of the truck.

00:20:36.190 --> 00:20:39.610 align:middle line:84%
They then apparently drug
him approximately three miles

00:20:39.610 --> 00:20:46.120 align:middle line:84%
down a back road through a
predominantly black portion

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.882 align:middle line:90%
of the county.

00:20:47.882 --> 00:20:49.590 align:middle line:84%
The name of the road
was Huff Creek Road.

00:20:49.590 --> 00:20:53.350 align:middle line:84%
It\'s about six miles
to the east of Jasper.

00:20:53.350 --> 00:20:57.460 align:middle line:84%
And again, that area
is predominantly black.

00:20:57.460 --> 00:21:05.320 align:middle line:84%
They unchained Mr. Byrd in front
of a black cemetery, the Huff

00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:08.140 align:middle line:90%
Creek Cemetery.

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In the process of dragging
him that distance,

00:21:13.450 --> 00:21:15.970 align:middle line:84%
apparently he at
one point struck

00:21:15.970 --> 00:21:20.130 align:middle line:84%
a culvert pipe, which ripped
his head and his right arm

00:21:20.130 --> 00:21:20.755 align:middle line:90%
from his torso.

00:21:20.755 --> 00:21:26.400 align:middle line:90%

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And pieces of his
body were found

00:21:28.750 --> 00:21:31.220 align:middle line:84%
scattered all along the
three-mile stretch of road.

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:36.340 align:middle line:90%

00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:39.310 align:middle line:84%
On Tuesday, after the
murder had been discovered,

00:21:39.310 --> 00:21:43.540 align:middle line:84%
the police released an affidavit
for a search warrant, which

00:21:43.540 --> 00:21:47.600 align:middle line:84%
gave a statement by one of
the men who was accused,

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:55.390 align:middle line:84%
Shawn Berry, who
I believe is 22.

00:21:55.390 --> 00:21:56.920 align:middle line:90%
He\'s a Jasper resident as well.

00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:59.440 align:middle line:90%

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.840 align:middle line:84%
In the statement
he gave an account

00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:03.610 align:middle line:90%
similar to what I just told you.

00:22:03.610 --> 00:22:06.340 align:middle line:90%

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:09.730 align:middle line:84%
But he elaborated that
it was racially motivated

00:22:09.730 --> 00:22:12.072 align:middle line:84%
and that it was a
white supremacist.

00:22:12.072 --> 00:22:17.380 align:middle line:90%

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:20.620 align:middle line:84%
He basically said
that the ringleader

00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:27.540 align:middle line:84%
of the group, William King,
wanted to, and I quote,

00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:30.390 align:middle line:84%
\"scare the hell out
of this nigger.\"

00:22:30.390 --> 00:22:32.750 align:middle line:84%
I see it as a
tragedy that I wish

00:22:32.750 --> 00:22:34.880 align:middle line:90%
it never would have happened.

00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:38.550 align:middle line:84%
And I don\'t see it
as something God

00:22:38.550 --> 00:22:43.065 align:middle line:84%
allowed to happen to see
how Jasper can heal itself.

00:22:43.065 --> 00:22:44.190 align:middle line:90%
I just feel it\'s a tragedy.

00:22:44.190 --> 00:22:45.720 align:middle line:90%
It shouldn\'t happen to Jasper.

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.095 align:middle line:84%
As a matter of
fact, it shouldn\'t

00:22:47.095 --> 00:22:51.960 align:middle line:84%
happen nowhere for anybody
be killed like that.

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They want to let you know
that they are still present.

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.810 align:middle line:90%
And they want to--

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I think I quote him as
saying he wanted to restore

00:22:57.893 --> 00:23:00.360 align:middle line:90%
white pride back to Jasper.

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:04.030 align:middle line:84%
So their plan is to do what
they were started to do.

00:23:04.030 --> 00:23:07.320 align:middle line:84%
And the reason they were
started is to eradicate and keep

00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:10.260 align:middle line:84%
black quiet, because
a different thing that

00:23:10.260 --> 00:23:13.520 align:middle line:84%
happened after emancipation,
after slaves were set free,

00:23:13.520 --> 00:23:15.210 align:middle line:84%
they was moving
too fast for them.

00:23:15.210 --> 00:23:16.710 align:middle line:84%
So they had to get
this organization

00:23:16.710 --> 00:23:18.510 align:middle line:84%
together to slow
down and kill blacks

00:23:18.510 --> 00:23:26.616 align:middle line:84%
or whatever is necessary to stop
blacks from becoming real men.

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[INSECTS HUMMING]

00:23:29.610 --> 00:24:12.025 align:middle line:90%

00:24:12.025 --> 00:24:14.520 align:middle line:90%
[DISTANT TRAIN CLATTERING]

00:24:14.520 --> 00:24:50.947 align:middle line:90%

00:24:50.947 --> 00:24:53.941 align:middle line:90%
[DISTANT CHATTER]

00:24:53.941 --> 00:25:20.388 align:middle line:90%

00:25:20.388 --> 00:25:22.384 align:middle line:90%
[BIRDS CHIRPING]

00:25:22.384 --> 00:27:14.659 align:middle line:90%

00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:16.156 align:middle line:90%
Why you got that camera?

00:27:16.156 --> 00:27:18.152 align:middle line:90%
Why you got that camera?

00:27:18.152 --> 00:27:26.635 align:middle line:90%

00:27:26.635 --> 00:27:28.132 align:middle line:90%
[CAR STARTING]

00:27:28.132 --> 00:28:12.700 align:middle line:90%

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:15.930 align:middle line:84%
There wasn\'t as much
lynching after I

00:28:15.930 --> 00:28:19.370 align:middle line:84%
was born as they said it
was before I was born.

00:28:19.370 --> 00:28:23.500 align:middle line:84%
There were several trees that
the limbs hung over the road,

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:27.415 align:middle line:84%
and they say that that\'s
where they had hung people.

00:28:27.415 --> 00:28:29.290 align:middle line:84%
You know, they said that
the limbs would even

00:28:29.290 --> 00:28:33.850 align:middle line:84%
grow different on the tree
where you hung the people.

00:28:33.850 --> 00:28:36.460 align:middle line:84%
And there were several
limbs over the roads,

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:39.580 align:middle line:84%
over the back roads,
down in Woodstock

00:28:39.580 --> 00:28:43.150 align:middle line:84%
and various places
that\'s down near Vance

00:28:43.150 --> 00:28:44.310 align:middle line:90%
where they hung people.

00:28:44.310 --> 00:28:51.070 align:middle line:84%
Some they said they
would put kerosene,

00:28:51.070 --> 00:28:54.770 align:middle line:84%
or any kind of a burning
fluid, drag them in the street.

00:28:54.770 --> 00:28:56.320 align:middle line:90%
Now, I didn\'t see that.

00:28:56.320 --> 00:29:01.540 align:middle line:84%
But I did know there were
on one Saturday evening,

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:05.800 align:middle line:84%
my brother and a young man
that worked with him-- in fact,

00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:07.390 align:middle line:90%
his son--

00:29:07.390 --> 00:29:10.770 align:middle line:84%
they were at my house,
at my father\'s house,

00:29:10.770 --> 00:29:15.550 align:middle line:84%
taking out the horses after
they had been on a day\'s work.

00:29:15.550 --> 00:29:20.320 align:middle line:84%
And this man came up with all
decorated with red strings

00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:24.100 align:middle line:84%
around his head and no shirt
on or nothing of the kind.

00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:27.850 align:middle line:84%
And at that time that he
came up to my father\'s house,

00:29:27.850 --> 00:29:33.580 align:middle line:84%
they say he had killed two black
men, shot them off of the horse

00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:34.870 align:middle line:90%
where they was riding.

00:29:34.870 --> 00:29:39.160 align:middle line:84%
And he thought that was
my brother and his son.

00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:41.890 align:middle line:84%
But when he found out--
walked up to them--

00:29:41.890 --> 00:29:44.770 align:middle line:84%
when he found out
that it wasn\'t them,

00:29:44.770 --> 00:29:46.860 align:middle line:84%
well, he came on over
to my daddy\'s house

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:50.210 align:middle line:84%
to borrow some old
shells \'cause he

00:29:50.210 --> 00:29:53.320 align:middle line:84%
had shot out all of the
shells out of his guns.

00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:56.800 align:middle line:84%
And of course, he came
over there to borrow

00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:59.260 align:middle line:90%
some shells to kill them with.

00:29:59.260 --> 00:30:02.500 align:middle line:84%
But when he got there, he
found out that my brother,

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:06.830 align:middle line:84%
although he was disguised, but
my brother knew who he was.

00:30:06.830 --> 00:30:10.610 align:middle line:84%
And so he turned around and
walked on back down the hill.

00:30:10.610 --> 00:30:17.330 align:middle line:84%
And they had burned down
churches and done lots of ugly

00:30:17.330 --> 00:30:23.140 align:middle line:84%
things, go through the field,
get all of the farm crops that

00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:26.590 align:middle line:84%
they wanted-- like the corn,
the peas, the watermelon,

00:30:26.590 --> 00:30:28.190 align:middle line:90%
dig the potatoes--

00:30:28.190 --> 00:30:30.100 align:middle line:84%
and then they would
tear down the fences.

00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:33.410 align:middle line:84%
They ruined the fences where
the cows that was in the forest

00:30:33.410 --> 00:30:38.090 align:middle line:84%
could coming in and eat up the
farm products that they had.

00:30:38.090 --> 00:30:42.890 align:middle line:84%
They just did things
like that-- big stills

00:30:42.890 --> 00:30:44.530 align:middle line:84%
on other people\'s
property, and you

00:30:44.530 --> 00:30:50.130 align:middle line:84%
could see the big smokes where
they was making moonshine.

00:30:50.130 --> 00:30:54.310 align:middle line:84%
But anyhow, none of
my family was ever

00:30:54.310 --> 00:30:58.570 align:middle line:84%
hurt with the procedures
that they went through.

00:30:58.570 --> 00:31:01.270 align:middle line:90%
My mother\'s from Tuscaloosa.

00:31:01.270 --> 00:31:06.010 align:middle line:84%
And she talked about some
of those kinds of things

00:31:06.010 --> 00:31:11.930 align:middle line:84%
that they experienced--
the killings, the lynching.

00:31:11.930 --> 00:31:18.280 align:middle line:84%
I remember when I was a
small boy here in Birmingham,

00:31:18.280 --> 00:31:21.160 align:middle line:90%
there was a castration.

00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.600 align:middle line:90%
They castrated a man.

00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:24.460 align:middle line:84%
I think his name
was George Aaron.

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:26.140 align:middle line:90%
I remember that.

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:33.220 align:middle line:84%
I remember when Nat King Cole
came to Birmingham in 1956,

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.330 align:middle line:90%
and he performed.

00:31:34.330 --> 00:31:37.880 align:middle line:90%
And I think three members--

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:40.120 align:middle line:84%
I don\'t know whether they
were the Ku Klux Klan--

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:44.020 align:middle line:84%
but they went on stage
and beat him with chains,

00:31:44.020 --> 00:31:45.190 align:middle line:90%
left him bloody.

00:31:45.190 --> 00:31:48.250 align:middle line:84%
And he went and got
cleaned up and came back

00:31:48.250 --> 00:31:49.970 align:middle line:90%
and finished his show.

00:31:49.970 --> 00:31:53.970 align:middle line:84%
I remember when the four
young ladies were bombed

00:31:53.970 --> 00:31:56.836 align:middle line:90%
at the church at 16th Street.

00:31:56.836 --> 00:31:59.824 align:middle line:90%
[BLUES GUITAR MUSIC]

00:31:59.824 --> 00:32:07.870 align:middle line:90%

00:32:07.870 --> 00:32:12.133 align:middle line:84%
(SINGING) [? Sitting ?]
on the road and no time.

00:32:12.133 --> 00:32:15.240 align:middle line:90%

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:18.647 align:middle line:90%
I made mine in \'99.

00:32:18.647 --> 00:33:03.556 align:middle line:90%

00:33:03.556 --> 00:33:04.056 align:middle line:90%
Oh.

00:33:04.056 --> 00:34:32.878 align:middle line:90%

00:34:32.878 --> 00:34:34.375 align:middle line:90%
[BIRDS CHIRPING]

00:34:34.375 --> 00:34:48.846 align:middle line:90%

00:34:48.846 --> 00:34:50.842 align:middle line:90%
[BABBLING]

00:34:50.842 --> 00:35:22.778 align:middle line:90%

00:35:22.778 --> 00:35:24.774 align:middle line:90%
[FLIES BUZZING]

00:35:24.774 --> 00:35:43.736 align:middle line:90%

00:35:43.736 --> 00:35:46.231 align:middle line:84%
[BIRDS CHIRPING, INSECTS
HUMMING]

00:35:46.231 --> 00:37:05.260 align:middle line:90%

00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:08.225 align:middle line:84%
Remember those who
have gone astray.

00:37:08.225 --> 00:37:09.560 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:09.560 --> 00:37:13.720 align:middle line:84%
Come around before
it\'s too late.

00:37:13.720 --> 00:37:14.890 align:middle line:90%
Oh, have mercy.

00:37:14.890 --> 00:37:16.570 align:middle line:90%
Have mercy.

00:37:16.570 --> 00:37:19.060 align:middle line:84%
Remember those this
morning who are lost--

00:37:19.060 --> 00:37:20.320 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:24.070 align:middle line:90%
--and cannot find their way.

00:37:24.070 --> 00:37:29.200 align:middle line:84%
Open up their eyes that they may
see, come running and crying,

00:37:29.200 --> 00:37:33.215 align:middle line:90%
what must I do to be saved?

00:37:33.215 --> 00:37:35.370 align:middle line:84%
Father, remember the
bereaved families.

00:37:35.370 --> 00:37:36.660 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:36.660 --> 00:37:39.300 align:middle line:90%
Oh, Lord, give them strength.

00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:42.060 align:middle line:84%
Help them through
these hours of grief.

00:37:42.060 --> 00:37:43.020 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:43.020 --> 00:37:44.363 align:middle line:90%
Oh, have mercy.

00:37:44.363 --> 00:37:45.130 align:middle line:90%
Have mercy.

00:37:45.130 --> 00:37:47.706 align:middle line:84%
And then, Lord, when
it\'s your call--

00:37:47.706 --> 00:37:48.500 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:50.063 align:middle line:90%
--and ours to answer--

00:37:50.063 --> 00:37:50.790 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:50.790 --> 00:37:52.268 align:middle line:84%
--give us a home
in your kingdom.

00:37:52.268 --> 00:37:53.310 align:middle line:90%
Oh, in the name of Jesus.

00:37:53.310 --> 00:37:54.870 align:middle line:90%
We can praise your name forever.

00:37:54.870 --> 00:37:55.860 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:56.837 align:middle line:90%
Amen.

00:37:56.837 --> 00:37:57.617 align:middle line:90%
Jesus.

00:37:57.617 --> 00:37:58.825 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC - \"LEAD ME, GUIDE ME\"]

00:37:58.825 --> 00:38:04.485 align:middle line:90%
(SINGING) Along the way--

00:38:04.485 --> 00:38:16.960 align:middle line:84%
Lord, if you lead
me, I cannot stray.

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:28.936 align:middle line:84%
Lord, let me walk
each day with thee.

00:38:28.936 --> 00:38:34.425 align:middle line:90%
Lead me, oh, Lord.

00:38:34.425 --> 00:38:35.922 align:middle line:90%
Lead me.

00:38:35.922 --> 00:38:38.916 align:middle line:90%

00:38:38.916 --> 00:38:41.450 align:middle line:90%
Amen.

00:38:41.450 --> 00:38:48.690 align:middle line:84%
Pastor Lyons, distinguished
guests, ladies and gentlemen.

00:38:48.690 --> 00:38:52.890 align:middle line:84%
First, on behalf of the
Jasper Chamber of Commerce

00:38:52.890 --> 00:38:56.250 align:middle line:84%
and my family, I wish
to express my deepest

00:38:56.250 --> 00:38:59.370 align:middle line:90%
sympathy for the Byrd family.

00:38:59.370 --> 00:39:02.670 align:middle line:84%
We share your grief
and loss, although we

00:39:02.670 --> 00:39:05.490 align:middle line:84%
realize it is utterly
impossible for anyone

00:39:05.490 --> 00:39:09.810 align:middle line:90%
to know how you actually feel.

00:39:09.810 --> 00:39:14.220 align:middle line:84%
Yet, we do know that
you, the Byrd family,

00:39:14.220 --> 00:39:16.590 align:middle line:84%
have conducted
yourselves in a manner

00:39:16.590 --> 00:39:19.080 align:middle line:84%
with restraint
and great dignity.

00:39:19.080 --> 00:39:20.310 align:middle line:90%
Amen.

00:39:20.310 --> 00:39:23.280 align:middle line:84%
You have demonstrated
a type of humanity

00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:26.220 align:middle line:84%
that is very rare in
these type situations.

00:39:26.220 --> 00:39:27.600 align:middle line:90%
You\'re right.

00:39:27.600 --> 00:39:32.400 align:middle line:84%
By refusing to express
hatred and bitterness

00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:35.220 align:middle line:84%
or to condone violence
in retaliation

00:39:35.220 --> 00:39:38.740 align:middle line:84%
for the horrifying crime
against your loved one,

00:39:38.740 --> 00:39:42.540 align:middle line:84%
you have set an example
for all of us to follow

00:39:42.540 --> 00:39:46.140 align:middle line:84%
and you have revealed your
strong Christian beliefs.

00:39:46.140 --> 00:39:48.030 align:middle line:90%
Amen.

00:39:48.030 --> 00:39:52.350 align:middle line:84%
I continue to be saddened and
disappointed by the reality

00:39:52.350 --> 00:39:54.660 align:middle line:84%
that racially motivated
hate crimes still

00:39:54.660 --> 00:39:59.150 align:middle line:84%
exist in our country
in the year of 1998.

00:39:59.150 --> 00:40:03.420 align:middle line:84%
And I am extremely shocked
that this tragedy occurred

00:40:03.420 --> 00:40:05.370 align:middle line:90%
in Jasper--

00:40:05.370 --> 00:40:10.100 align:middle line:84%
not because I think
Jasper is without racism

00:40:10.100 --> 00:40:13.710 align:middle line:84%
or that we don\'t have
racial problems in Jasper,

00:40:13.710 --> 00:40:18.090 align:middle line:84%
rather because the overall
racial climate in Jasper

00:40:18.090 --> 00:40:20.970 align:middle line:84%
is not conducive to
the type of brutality--

00:40:20.970 --> 00:40:21.600 align:middle line:90%
Yeah.

00:40:21.600 --> 00:40:24.000 align:middle line:84%
--displayed by the murderers
of the Byrd family.

00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:25.350 align:middle line:90%
That\'s right.

00:40:25.350 --> 00:40:27.870 align:middle line:84%
We all know that this
crime does not reflect

00:40:27.870 --> 00:40:29.278 align:middle line:90%
the general population--

00:40:29.278 --> 00:40:29.820 align:middle line:90%
That\'s right.

00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:32.280 align:middle line:90%
--of Jasper.

00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:35.250 align:middle line:90%
As evil and barbaric as it was--

00:40:35.250 --> 00:40:36.150 align:middle line:90%
Yeah.

00:40:36.150 --> 00:40:39.390 align:middle line:84%
--I believe the death
of James Byrd, Jr.

00:40:39.390 --> 00:40:42.420 align:middle line:84%
may accomplish what could
have never accomplished in his

00:40:42.420 --> 00:40:43.680 align:middle line:90%
lifetime--

00:40:43.680 --> 00:40:48.336 align:middle line:84%
that is, better racial
unity in Jasper.

00:40:48.336 --> 00:40:49.290 align:middle line:90%
Amen.

00:40:49.290 --> 00:40:52.350 align:middle line:84%
Because of Mr. Byrd,
for the first time

00:40:52.350 --> 00:40:55.462 align:middle line:84%
in the history of Jasper,
members of all races

00:40:55.462 --> 00:40:56.295 align:middle line:90%
have come together--

00:40:56.295 --> 00:40:56.940 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:58.880 align:middle line:84%
--for the common
good of this town.

00:40:58.880 --> 00:40:59.380 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:40:59.380 --> 00:41:00.180 align:middle line:90%
Amen.

00:41:00.180 --> 00:41:04.980 align:middle line:84%
His death has prompted the
formation of a race task force

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:10.500 align:middle line:84%
to study and identify problems
in Jasper, which I think

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:12.570 align:middle line:90%
is a very positive first step.

00:41:12.570 --> 00:41:13.950 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:41:13.950 --> 00:41:19.260 align:middle line:84%
Also, I think Mr. Byrd\'s tragedy
has raised the consciousness

00:41:19.260 --> 00:41:24.360 align:middle line:84%
of many who are in a position
to eliminate racism and ensure

00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:26.520 align:middle line:90%
equality for all citizens.

00:41:26.520 --> 00:41:27.450 align:middle line:90%
Yes.

00:41:27.450 --> 00:41:31.320 align:middle line:84%
Finally, I believe that the
circumstances of Mr. Byrd\'s

00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:36.000 align:middle line:84%
death should motivate
our leaders in all levels

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:40.110 align:middle line:84%
to act aggressively against
any future racial issues

00:41:40.110 --> 00:41:43.210 align:middle line:90%
whenever they arise.

00:41:43.210 --> 00:41:48.540 align:middle line:84%
If these things come
to pass, then Mr. Byrd

00:41:48.540 --> 00:41:50.838 align:middle line:90%
has not died in vain.

00:41:50.838 --> 00:41:52.260 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE]

00:41:52.260 --> 00:41:54.630 align:middle line:90%
[APPLAUSE]

00:41:54.630 --> 00:41:58.900 align:middle line:90%

00:41:58.900 --> 00:42:01.780 align:middle line:84%
James\' love for music
inspired him to embark

00:42:01.780 --> 00:42:04.510 align:middle line:90%
upon a musical career.

00:42:04.510 --> 00:42:09.850 align:middle line:84%
He was unselfish and shared
his talent with many others.

00:42:09.850 --> 00:42:14.080 align:middle line:84%
Many songs he loved,
however his favorite song

00:42:14.080 --> 00:42:17.790 align:middle line:90%
was \"Walk With Me, Lord.\"

00:42:17.790 --> 00:42:22.800 align:middle line:84%
James was a man who believed
in a well-rounded, wholesome

00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:24.840 align:middle line:90%
family values.

00:42:24.840 --> 00:42:29.080 align:middle line:84%
His love for the human
race was untiring.

00:42:29.080 --> 00:42:33.970 align:middle line:84%
James\' spiritual life and his
devoted belief in Jesus Christ

00:42:33.970 --> 00:42:38.110 align:middle line:84%
manifested his sober
sense of humor.

00:42:38.110 --> 00:42:42.040 align:middle line:84%
Therefore, he was
an asset to mankind.

00:42:42.040 --> 00:42:46.840 align:middle line:84%
He\'d visit the elderly and
tried to comfort their needs

00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:51.220 align:middle line:84%
and desire by giving
food and his time.

00:42:51.220 --> 00:42:54.730 align:middle line:84%
His energetic spirit
and good sense of humor

00:42:54.730 --> 00:42:57.280 align:middle line:90%
will always be with us.

00:42:57.280 --> 00:43:03.050 align:middle line:84%
James would counsel the youth
and was loved by everyone.

00:43:03.050 --> 00:43:09.290 align:middle line:84%
His friends called him Toe,
and his family called him son.

00:43:09.290 --> 00:43:14.420 align:middle line:84%
James\' majestic personality
allowed his marketing skills

00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:17.960 align:middle line:90%
to ascend beyond reproach.

00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:21.650 align:middle line:84%
Mr. Byrd\'s legacy
to his children

00:43:21.650 --> 00:43:24.980 align:middle line:84%
and other family
members and society

00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:27.481 align:middle line:90%
will be remembered forever.

00:43:27.481 --> 00:43:28.463 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:43:28.463 --> 00:43:36.319 align:middle line:84%
(SINGING) [INAUDIBLE]
I [INAUDIBLE]

00:43:36.319 --> 00:43:45.157 align:middle line:84%
So much evil, but
you were there.

00:43:45.157 --> 00:43:54.640 align:middle line:84%
Now I\'m resting
[INAUDIBLE] Send down

00:43:54.640 --> 00:44:01.794 align:middle line:84%
peace, Lord, in the
midst of this hell.

00:44:01.794 --> 00:44:05.240 align:middle line:90%
It\'s OK now.

00:44:05.240 --> 00:44:09.008 align:middle line:90%
I\'m at home.

00:44:09.008 --> 00:44:12.494 align:middle line:90%
God has saved me.

00:44:12.494 --> 00:44:17.972 align:middle line:90%
The world can go on.

00:44:17.972 --> 00:44:21.956 align:middle line:90%
Have more love, love, love.

00:44:21.956 --> 00:44:30.450 align:middle line:84%
All of God\'s
children, be at peace.

00:44:30.450 --> 00:44:33.396 align:middle line:90%
God [? picked me ?] for you.

00:44:33.396 --> 00:44:36.342 align:middle line:90%

00:44:36.342 --> 00:44:38.800 align:middle line:90%
[HUMMING]

00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:45.036 align:middle line:84%
To my dear, beloved brother,
things are not the same

00:44:45.036 --> 00:44:46.512 align:middle line:90%
since you have gone.

00:44:46.512 --> 00:44:51.780 align:middle line:84%
Our hearts are filled
with sorrow and pain.

00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:54.650 align:middle line:84%
We miss your smile
and the way you\'d

00:44:54.650 --> 00:44:58.894 align:middle line:84%
entertain us with
your musical style.

00:44:58.894 --> 00:45:05.118 align:middle line:84%
You always told us that
one day, you will be known.

00:45:05.118 --> 00:45:10.950 align:middle line:84%
Now, James Byrd, Jr.\'s
name will live on.

00:45:10.950 --> 00:45:15.318 align:middle line:84%
To Mom and Dad, he was the
talented and creative one

00:45:15.318 --> 00:45:17.808 align:middle line:90%
they had.

00:45:17.808 --> 00:45:29.060 align:middle line:84%
To your siblings, Stella, Clara,
Mary, Melinda, Betty, Thurman,

00:45:29.060 --> 00:45:36.102 align:middle line:84%
and Louvon, there was
a very special bond.

00:45:36.102 --> 00:45:42.576 align:middle line:84%
To your children--
Jamie, Renee, Ross--

00:45:42.576 --> 00:45:47.070 align:middle line:90%
his death was a great loss.

00:45:47.070 --> 00:45:51.820 align:middle line:84%
In their hearts, he
will always stay, even

00:45:51.820 --> 00:45:56.614 align:middle line:84%
to his granddaughter,
Taylor Renee.

00:45:56.614 --> 00:46:01.430 align:middle line:84%
The way he died was
such a disgrace.

00:46:01.430 --> 00:46:06.754 align:middle line:84%
It was a major setback
for all of the human race.

00:46:06.754 --> 00:46:11.550 align:middle line:84%
It is our hope that
James Byrd, Jr.\'s death

00:46:11.550 --> 00:46:14.166 align:middle line:90%
will bring some good--

00:46:14.166 --> 00:46:18.030 align:middle line:84%
a legend throughout
the neighborhood.

00:46:18.030 --> 00:46:22.350 align:middle line:84%
This tribute is for
you, James Byrd,

00:46:22.350 --> 00:46:26.670 align:middle line:90%
known as son, to others, Toe.

00:46:26.670 --> 00:46:32.010 align:middle line:84%
Throughout the world,
let these words be heard.

00:46:32.010 --> 00:46:37.860 align:middle line:84%
I remember this Bible verse
you always said to us--

00:46:37.860 --> 00:46:43.650 align:middle line:84%
\"Yea, though I walk through
the valley of shadow of death,

00:46:43.650 --> 00:46:45.870 align:middle line:90%
I will fear no evil.

00:46:45.870 --> 00:46:49.710 align:middle line:84%
For the Lord thy
God is with me.\"

00:46:49.710 --> 00:46:53.450 align:middle line:84%
I feel you saying those
words to us today.

00:46:53.450 --> 00:46:59.192 align:middle line:84%
Just walk on-- even though our
hearts are hurting with pain--

00:46:59.192 --> 00:47:04.052 align:middle line:90%
to just walk on.

00:47:04.052 --> 00:47:08.930 align:middle line:84%
Oh, brother, we will
never say goodbye to you.

00:47:08.930 --> 00:47:15.550 align:middle line:84%
For you are still alive in
our hearts and our spirits.

00:47:15.550 --> 00:47:20.760 align:middle line:84%
May peace be with you
until we meet again.

00:47:20.760 --> 00:47:22.550 align:middle line:90%
We love you, James.

00:47:22.550 --> 00:47:23.220 align:middle line:90%
We love you.

00:47:23.220 --> 00:47:25.485 align:middle line:90%
(SINGING) Walk with me, Lord.

00:47:25.485 --> 00:47:28.275 align:middle line:90%

00:47:28.275 --> 00:47:30.263 align:middle line:90%
You walk with me.

00:47:30.263 --> 00:47:33.245 align:middle line:90%

00:47:33.245 --> 00:47:37.718 align:middle line:90%
You walk with me now.

00:47:37.718 --> 00:47:43.185 align:middle line:90%
You walk with me.

00:47:43.185 --> 00:47:54.096 align:middle line:84%
As I [INAUDIBLE] this
crystal [INAUDIBLE],, Lord,

00:47:54.096 --> 00:48:06.048 align:middle line:84%
you watched over me,
and now I [? praise. ?]

00:48:06.048 --> 00:48:09.036 align:middle line:90%
[APPLAUSE]

00:48:09.036 --> 00:48:15.520 align:middle line:90%

00:48:15.520 --> 00:48:19.630 align:middle line:84%
And I want to say to the Byrd
family, to those that knew him,

00:48:19.630 --> 00:48:23.590 align:middle line:84%
the Bible tells
us, in Isaiah 31,

00:48:23.590 --> 00:48:28.900 align:middle line:84%
\"But if we wait upon the Lord,
he would renew our strength.

00:48:28.900 --> 00:48:31.870 align:middle line:84%
We can mount up with
wings as eagles.

00:48:31.870 --> 00:48:34.750 align:middle line:90%
We can run and not be weary.

00:48:34.750 --> 00:48:37.209 align:middle line:90%
We can walk and not faint.

00:48:37.209 --> 00:48:47.189 align:middle line:84%
(SINGING) I
[INAUDIBLE] now, Lord.

00:48:47.189 --> 00:49:10.642 align:middle line:84%
I am falling
[? down. ?] [INAUDIBLE]

00:49:10.642 --> 00:49:21.121 align:middle line:90%
I am [INAUDIBLE] Oh, yes.

00:49:21.121 --> 00:49:23.616 align:middle line:90%
Thank you, Jesus.

00:49:23.616 --> 00:49:49.065 align:middle line:84%
[INAUDIBLE] as
[INAUDIBLE] I have

00:49:49.065 --> 00:50:46.949 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] Jesus, [INAUDIBLE]

00:50:46.949 --> 00:50:50.442 align:middle line:90%
Hallelujah.

00:50:50.442 --> 00:50:52.438 align:middle line:90%
[HUMMING]

00:50:52.438 --> 00:50:53.935 align:middle line:90%
Oh, yeah.

00:50:53.935 --> 00:50:54.933 align:middle line:90%
Yes, Lord.

00:50:54.933 --> 00:51:08.905 align:middle line:90%

00:51:08.905 --> 00:51:11.899 align:middle line:90%
[CHATTER]

00:51:11.899 --> 00:51:52.840 align:middle line:90%

00:51:52.840 --> 00:51:57.760 align:middle line:90%
Jasper, Texas is rural America.

00:51:57.760 --> 00:52:00.190 align:middle line:90%
We\'re a small community.

00:52:00.190 --> 00:52:06.310 align:middle line:84%
We have 30, 35,000 people
here in our county.

00:52:06.310 --> 00:52:09.160 align:middle line:90%
Our people are hard working.

00:52:09.160 --> 00:52:19.780 align:middle line:84%
Our county is probably
75% white, 25% black.

00:52:19.780 --> 00:52:24.040 align:middle line:84%
In the city of Jasper we\'re
about 60% white and about 40%

00:52:24.040 --> 00:52:26.310 align:middle line:90%
black.

00:52:26.310 --> 00:52:28.610 align:middle line:84%
The people here are
basically from here.

00:52:28.610 --> 00:52:31.990 align:middle line:84%
They grew up here and
went to school here.

00:52:31.990 --> 00:52:34.240 align:middle line:84%
The blacks and whites
went to school together.

00:52:34.240 --> 00:52:35.425 align:middle line:90%
They played sports together.

00:52:35.425 --> 00:52:38.880 align:middle line:90%

00:52:38.880 --> 00:52:42.510 align:middle line:84%
We get along well
here in Jasper.

00:52:42.510 --> 00:52:50.280 align:middle line:84%
I can tell you that we do
have a few problems in Jasper,

00:52:50.280 --> 00:52:52.620 align:middle line:90%
as far as racial.

00:52:52.620 --> 00:52:53.760 align:middle line:90%
But they\'re very small.

00:52:53.760 --> 00:52:56.730 align:middle line:84%
They\'re no different in Jasper
than they are anywhere else

00:52:56.730 --> 00:52:58.980 align:middle line:90%
in the country.

00:52:58.980 --> 00:53:02.100 align:middle line:84%
I would say we have less
racial problems in Jasper

00:53:02.100 --> 00:53:05.590 align:middle line:90%
than most places in the country.

00:53:05.590 --> 00:53:08.130 align:middle line:84%
A lot of our problems we
have in Jasper right now

00:53:08.130 --> 00:53:11.760 align:middle line:84%
are economic, just like
throughout the country.

00:53:11.760 --> 00:53:14.790 align:middle line:84%
We\'ve had a lot of industry
that has shut down and moved

00:53:14.790 --> 00:53:17.100 align:middle line:90%
from Jasper.

00:53:17.100 --> 00:53:18.780 align:middle line:84%
Some of the problems
that we have now

00:53:18.780 --> 00:53:21.990 align:middle line:90%
are basically economic problems.

00:53:21.990 --> 00:53:28.560 align:middle line:84%
You take a man that
has a steady job,

00:53:28.560 --> 00:53:32.040 align:middle line:84%
come payday, let him have
a little bit of money left

00:53:32.040 --> 00:53:35.790 align:middle line:84%
in his pocket, got a good
job to go back to Monday,

00:53:35.790 --> 00:53:39.870 align:middle line:84%
got insurance for his family,
plenty of food on the table,

00:53:39.870 --> 00:53:42.360 align:middle line:84%
and that knocks down
on a lot of problems--

00:53:42.360 --> 00:53:45.510 align:middle line:84%
racial problems and
every kind of problems.

00:53:45.510 --> 00:53:49.800 align:middle line:84%
Right now, Jasper, we\'ve
lost some industry here,

00:53:49.800 --> 00:53:52.110 align:middle line:84%
and we\'ve got a good
many people unemployed.

00:53:52.110 --> 00:53:56.550 align:middle line:84%
So a lot of our problems that
we have in Jasper people may say

00:53:56.550 --> 00:53:58.470 align:middle line:84%
are racial problems,
but they\'re not.

00:53:58.470 --> 00:54:00.390 align:middle line:90%
They\'re economic problems.

00:54:00.390 --> 00:54:02.190 align:middle line:90%
And that\'s a problem.

00:54:02.190 --> 00:54:03.280 align:middle line:90%
I can\'t tell you--

00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:05.760 align:middle line:84%
I cannot look in that camera
and tell you we have no racial

00:54:05.760 --> 00:54:09.673 align:middle line:90%
problems in Jasper.

00:54:09.673 --> 00:54:12.667 align:middle line:84%
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING IN
DISTANCE]

00:54:12.667 --> 00:54:32.128 align:middle line:90%

00:54:32.128 --> 00:54:35.122 align:middle line:90%
[ENGINE ROARING IN DISTANCE]

00:54:35.122 --> 00:57:23.784 align:middle line:90%

00:57:23.784 --> 00:57:26.778 align:middle line:90%
[INSECTS HUMMING]

00:57:26.778 --> 00:58:03.740 align:middle line:90%

00:58:03.740 --> 00:58:07.410 align:middle line:84%
The Aryan Nation movement
has grown considerably

00:58:07.410 --> 00:58:10.920 align:middle line:84%
in the last 15 years
in this country.

00:58:10.920 --> 00:58:15.820 align:middle line:84%
It has been growing
literally since the 1960s.

00:58:15.820 --> 00:58:17.610 align:middle line:84%
But in the last 15
years, there has

00:58:17.610 --> 00:58:20.430 align:middle line:84%
been a resurgence
of, for example,

00:58:20.430 --> 00:58:22.290 align:middle line:84%
organizations such
as the Ku Klux

00:58:22.290 --> 00:58:26.130 align:middle line:84%
Klan and the various
white supremacy groups

00:58:26.130 --> 00:58:31.560 align:middle line:84%
under a banner of now what is
known as Christian Identity.

00:58:31.560 --> 00:58:36.960 align:middle line:84%
That is a belief that the
white Aryan, or the white man,

00:58:36.960 --> 00:58:40.920 align:middle line:84%
is the heir to all of the
promises of the Old Testament,

00:58:40.920 --> 00:58:43.890 align:middle line:84%
that they are white
Israel in reality.

00:58:43.890 --> 00:58:45.720 align:middle line:84%
And the easiest
way to understand

00:58:45.720 --> 00:58:47.670 align:middle line:84%
that, I found, to
explained to people

00:58:47.670 --> 00:58:53.610 align:middle line:84%
is that if you would
transpose the white Aryan

00:58:53.610 --> 00:58:58.590 align:middle line:84%
for the terminology that most
people would know as the Jew,

00:58:58.590 --> 00:59:02.850 align:middle line:84%
they would understand the length
that the Aryan brotherhood

00:59:02.850 --> 00:59:05.220 align:middle line:84%
and the Aryan nation
movement claims

00:59:05.220 --> 00:59:09.030 align:middle line:84%
to be the children of
Israel and that the Jew

00:59:09.030 --> 00:59:15.240 align:middle line:84%
is the seed of Satan and the
arch enemy of the white race.

00:59:15.240 --> 00:59:17.250 align:middle line:84%
They are trained
in that movement

00:59:17.250 --> 00:59:23.460 align:middle line:84%
to seize opportunities, to
bring injury or harm upon people

00:59:23.460 --> 00:59:27.950 align:middle line:84%
of other races, because they
believe that the black man

00:59:27.950 --> 00:59:31.230 align:middle line:90%
or the Mexican or the Oriental--

00:59:31.230 --> 00:59:35.130 align:middle line:84%
or any one person of color
who comes to this country--

00:59:35.130 --> 00:59:36.840 align:middle line:90%
must be driven out.

00:59:36.840 --> 00:59:41.370 align:middle line:84%
Their basic belief is that race
is nation and nation is race.

00:59:41.370 --> 00:59:44.980 align:middle line:84%
So if you looked is the United
States of America, for example,

00:59:44.980 --> 00:59:50.280 align:middle line:84%
the white supremacist views
America as many, many nations

00:59:50.280 --> 00:59:53.400 align:middle line:84%
because there are
many, many races.

00:59:53.400 --> 00:59:59.040 align:middle line:84%
Their belief is that those
non-white Aryan races

00:59:59.040 --> 01:00:02.160 align:middle line:84%
must be purged from
the United States

01:00:02.160 --> 01:00:05.910 align:middle line:84%
so that we will return to
being what they consider

01:00:05.910 --> 01:00:09.810 align:middle line:84%
a white nation only
under the rule of God,

01:00:09.810 --> 01:00:12.300 align:middle line:90%
not the rule of man.

01:00:12.300 --> 01:00:16.530 align:middle line:84%
They believe in what\'s known as
leaderless resistance, whereby

01:00:16.530 --> 01:00:21.480 align:middle line:84%
the leader of the organization
issues not direct edicts

01:00:21.480 --> 01:00:25.270 align:middle line:84%
to go out and bomb a building,
kill a specific individual,

01:00:25.270 --> 01:00:28.620 align:middle line:84%
burn a church,
desecrate a synagogue,

01:00:28.620 --> 01:00:31.470 align:middle line:84%
attack a person
of Jewish origin.

01:00:31.470 --> 01:00:35.880 align:middle line:84%
They talk about these
terms in general comments

01:00:35.880 --> 01:00:37.740 align:middle line:84%
in their speeches,
in their rallies,

01:00:37.740 --> 01:00:39.450 align:middle line:90%
in their training tapes.

01:00:39.450 --> 01:00:46.020 align:middle line:84%
And they believe that by issuing
a pronouncement without giving

01:00:46.020 --> 01:00:49.980 align:middle line:84%
specificity to that
pronouncement, what will happen

01:00:49.980 --> 01:00:54.420 align:middle line:84%
then is that individuals are
trained to react and take

01:00:54.420 --> 01:00:56.010 align:middle line:90%
targets of opportunity.

01:00:56.010 --> 01:00:59.820 align:middle line:84%
It\'s up to the individual to
do what they feel needs to be

01:00:59.820 --> 01:01:02.400 align:middle line:90%
done to enforce God\'s law.

01:01:02.400 --> 01:01:06.990 align:middle line:84%
This keeps the individual who\'s
the head of the organization

01:01:06.990 --> 01:01:10.470 align:middle line:84%
from being able to be named
in a conspiracy charge

01:01:10.470 --> 01:01:13.410 align:middle line:84%
because they don\'t give
a specific instruction.

01:01:13.410 --> 01:01:19.050 align:middle line:84%
And the prime example of that
is the Oklahoma City bombing

01:01:19.050 --> 01:01:22.260 align:middle line:90%
and the James Byrd murder case.

01:01:22.260 --> 01:01:24.990 align:middle line:84%
When you look at
crimes like that,

01:01:24.990 --> 01:01:28.890 align:middle line:84%
you see that no one
probably gave a direct order

01:01:28.890 --> 01:01:31.050 align:middle line:90%
to do any of those things.

01:01:31.050 --> 01:01:35.880 align:middle line:84%
But by virtue of their
training, the followers

01:01:35.880 --> 01:01:39.030 align:middle line:84%
of Christian Identity, or
the Aryan Nation Separatist

01:01:39.030 --> 01:01:42.090 align:middle line:84%
Movement, are expected
to take their initiative

01:01:42.090 --> 01:01:44.910 align:middle line:90%
and put it into action.

01:01:44.910 --> 01:01:46.770 align:middle line:84%
The Christian
Identity Movement has

01:01:46.770 --> 01:01:50.940 align:middle line:84%
found a very successful
method of spreading

01:01:50.940 --> 01:01:54.480 align:middle line:84%
their vision of their
belief structure

01:01:54.480 --> 01:01:56.490 align:middle line:90%
throughout the white community.

01:01:56.490 --> 01:01:59.580 align:middle line:84%
One of those ways
is by infiltrating

01:01:59.580 --> 01:02:01.770 align:middle line:90%
small independent churches.

01:02:01.770 --> 01:02:04.420 align:middle line:84%
And once they get inside
the structure of the church,

01:02:04.420 --> 01:02:06.690 align:middle line:84%
they bring in more
and more members.

01:02:06.690 --> 01:02:08.760 align:middle line:90%
They start training converts.

01:02:08.760 --> 01:02:11.790 align:middle line:84%
And since basically the
laws of the United States

01:02:11.790 --> 01:02:14.310 align:middle line:84%
and the laws of
the various states

01:02:14.310 --> 01:02:18.390 align:middle line:84%
in which these churches are
organized, majority vote rules.

01:02:18.390 --> 01:02:21.390 align:middle line:84%
So they simply find
themselves eventually

01:02:21.390 --> 01:02:24.270 align:middle line:90%
in a position of majority.

01:02:24.270 --> 01:02:29.730 align:middle line:84%
And they vote the preacher
out, take over the church.

01:02:29.730 --> 01:02:32.640 align:middle line:84%
They wind up with the
building, the land,

01:02:32.640 --> 01:02:34.870 align:middle line:90%
any monies in the bank.

01:02:34.870 --> 01:02:38.760 align:middle line:84%
And they are
propagating themselves,

01:02:38.760 --> 01:02:40.680 align:middle line:84%
not only by opening
new churches,

01:02:40.680 --> 01:02:42.641 align:middle line:84%
but by literally
stealing churches

01:02:42.641 --> 01:02:43.599 align:middle line:90%
throughout the country.

01:02:43.599 --> 01:02:48.000 align:middle line:90%

01:02:48.000 --> 01:02:48.850 align:middle line:90%
He was beaten.

01:02:48.850 --> 01:02:51.980 align:middle line:84%
It was down this road here by
the bridge and this road going

01:02:51.980 --> 01:02:52.863 align:middle line:90%
around here.

01:02:52.863 --> 01:02:54.280 align:middle line:84%
And they brought
him out of there,

01:02:54.280 --> 01:02:56.680 align:middle line:90%
and they started dragging him.

01:02:56.680 --> 01:02:57.920 align:middle line:90%
Drug him up down the road.

01:02:57.920 --> 01:03:00.610 align:middle line:90%
He his keys down here.

01:03:00.610 --> 01:03:03.640 align:middle line:84%
That\'s why they got all
these circles in the road.

01:03:03.640 --> 01:03:08.830 align:middle line:90%
And lost a piece of flesh there.

01:03:08.830 --> 01:03:13.940 align:middle line:84%
And all down this road, all
the way to the graveyard,

01:03:13.940 --> 01:03:17.390 align:middle line:84%
and that\'s where
they unhooked him at.

01:03:17.390 --> 01:03:21.170 align:middle line:84%
They lost the head before he got
to the graveyard on the right

01:03:21.170 --> 01:03:24.020 align:middle line:90%
down there.

01:03:24.020 --> 01:03:26.260 align:middle line:84%
And that\'s all I--
well, I didn\'t see that.

01:03:26.260 --> 01:03:29.060 align:middle line:84%
But I saw the little
flesh out there.

01:03:29.060 --> 01:11:57.312 align:middle line:90%