FBI: No New Probe of Orangeburg Massacre

Source: Associated Press

Posted on Fri, Nov. 30, 2007

FBI: No New Probe of Orangeburg Massacre

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The FBI will not reinvestigate
the deaths of three black men killed during a civil
rights protest because the state troopers involved
were acquitted of all charges nearly 40 years ago,
according to a report published online Thursday.

The FBI was considering whether to review the
shootings known as the Orangeburg Massacre as
part of its examination of a number of civil
rights-era cases across the South.

The FBI decided not to proceed with another
investigation of the shootings because it would
violate constitutional protections against double
jeopardy, Denise Taiste, a spokeswoman for the
FBI's South Carolina office, told The Greenville
News.

-snip-

On Feb. 8, 1968, three civil rights demonstrators
were killed and 27 wounded at the historically
black college, which is now South Carolina State
University, in Orangeburg. The shootings were the
culmination of several days of protest because
blacks were not allowed at a local bowling alley.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20071130_ap_fbinonewprobeoforangeburgmassacre.html

The technique normally used in such cases is to bring the racists up on charges of violating the demonstrators' civil rights. Not being a lawyer, I don't know whether "a charge of imposing summary punishment without due process of law" amounts to the same thing, hence the double jeopardy issue.

But wait a minute:

State charges were never filed in the case

There being no statute of limitations on murder, S.C. is free to bring such charges without any double jeopardy issue whatsoever, though I won't be holding my breath. :eyes:

Oh yes, did you notice that this took place in 1968? Yet the word "Orangeburg" is hardly on everyone's lips the way "Kent State" is to this day. Hmmmmm....