Bush Sidesteps Civil Rights Stand : Families of Workers Slain by Klan Get No Commitment

The families of three civil rights workers slain 25 years ago by Ku Klux Klansmen said they pressed President Bush today to back legislation to offset recent Supreme Court rulings “that have so badly eroded civil rights in this country,” but he offered no commitment.

“I believe the President doesn’t want to commit himself in the way we need a commitment to the work that needs to be done to ensure the dignity of all citizens of the United States,” said Rita Schwerner-Bender, the former wife of one of the slain young men, Michael Schwerner.

“Yes, I am disappointed,” she said.

‘American Heroes’

In a written statement, Bush called the three men “American heroes.” He said the best way to honor their sacrifice is “to ensure the arrogance and bigotry that took their lives never again exists in America.”

But spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the President told the families he has not committed himself to the legislation because he is waiting for the Justice Department to complete a review of the new Supreme Court rulings.

The families of Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, both white New Yorkers, and James Chaney, a black Mississippian, visited the White House before heading to Capitol Hill for a commemorative ceremony on the anniversary of their disappearance June 21, 1964.

In a photo session with the family members before the meeting, Bush declined to answer reporters’ questions on civil rights matters, citing his rules against taking questions at such times.

But Schwerner-Bender spoke up, telling reporters the group was going to ask Bush to “support bipartisan legislation to deal with the Supreme Court cases that have so badly eroded civil rights in this country.”

Volunteerism Pushed

Later, speaking to reporters outside the White House, she said Bush had talked about volunteerism to solve pressing problems such as housing, education and medical needs.

“I think he believes that a group of volunteers will solve the problem. I don’t,” she said.

She added that she asked the President if he envisioned inviting a homeless family to live in his Kennebunkport, Me., summer home to help solve the housing problem and he replied negatively.

The families were on a bus caravan from Philadelphia, Miss., where the three were killed, to Washington and New York to retrace, in reverse, the civil rights workers’ journey to Mississippi.