Norton Asks Mississippi Governor to Await State
Parole Board Recommendation and to Pardon Innocent Black Man
May 5, 2006

Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter she wrote to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour asking that he posthumously pardon Clyde Kennard. Kennard was a black Korean War veteran who was framed and wrongfully imprisoned for theft in 1960, after he tried to integrate the University of Southern Mississippi. Norton, whose civil rights work took her to Mississippi in the 1960’s, noted in the letter that the state of Mississippi and Barbour have already spoken of Kennard’s innocence. In addition, the previous governor granted clemency to Kennard prior to his death. Norton was about to send her letter when news reports indicated that Barbour will deny the pardon even before receiving a recommendation from the Mississippi Parole Board following its meeting on May 10. However, in her letter, Norton said that despite those reports, she decided to send the letter anyway. The full text of the letter follows.

May 5, 2006

The Honorable Haley Barbour
Governor, State of Mississippi

Dear Governor Barbour:

As this letter was about to be sent to you yesterday, my staff brought to my attention a statement by a spokesman that purported to indicate that you had denied a posthumous pardon to Clyde Kennard, the black Korean War veteran who was wrongfully convicted 46 years ago. However, I have decided to send this letter rather than to believe that you would reach a decision before receiving and reviewing a recommendation from the Mississippi Parole board. The Board will not meet until May 10. The matter will come to you because other remedies in your state are procedurally unavailable while governor’s pardon power is always available.

I spent some time in your state in the early 1960’s when I was in law school. Since then, the state’s racial progress has been significant. Particularly impressive has been the state’s willingness to open and to try old cases. Against this background of progress, I write to ask that you posthumously pardon Clyde Kennard.

In various ways, the state of Mississippi and you yourself, have already spoken of Kennard’s innocence and you have taken action that indicates you realize that Clyde Kennard should never have been imprisoned. I thank you for your commendable action in issuing a proclamation declaring March 30, 2006 to be Clyde Kennard Day. Your predecessor, Gov. Ross Barnett, granted clemency when Mr. Kennard’s health declined because of what proved to be fatal intestinal cancer. His incarceration probably shortened his life. In addition, recently the only witness who testified against Clyde Kennard recanted his testimony, confirming Mr. Kennard’s innocence.

Clyde Kennard regarded himself as a true son of Mississippi, and returned as an adult to his native state to run the family farm. Now, 46 years after his conviction and 43 years after his death, I ask that you posthumously pardon Clyde Kennard.

Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton