Jackson Free Press

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department is investigating white supremacist and lawyer Richard Barrett's death as a homicide, the Associated Press reported today. Rankin County officials discovered Barrett's body this morning at his home in Pearl, following a house fire. Rankin County Sheriff Ronni Pennington was not immediately available for comment.

Barrett , 67, was the founder of the Nationalist Movement, a white supremacist movement based in Learned, Miss., that has attracted skinheads. Barrett was raised in New York City and East Orange, N.J., and attended Rutgers University in New Jersey. He moved to Mississippi in 1966 and later got his law degree from Memphis State University.

According to the Anti-defamation League, Barrett served in the Vietnam War with the Army. Since becoming a southerner, he has been a vocal segregationist, organizing several protests against civil rights issues such as the state's reopening of the Edgar Ray Killen trial for his role in the Klan murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, three civil-rights workers killed in Neshoba County in 1964. He has exercised his free-speech rights (and legal expertise) by organizing controversial protests, such as one in Jena, La., during a racially charged controversy between white and black students. More recently, he has seemed more of a racist gadfly, handing out his pro-white manifesto at events and to journalists at public events.

In 2004, then Jackson Free Press reporter Ayana Taylor, who is black, interviewed another local "pro-white" activist, Jim Giles, about Barrett's efforts to turn Killen into a hero for her award-winning "X Marks the Boycott." Giles said of Barrett: "Barrett is a fraud, a Yankee lawyer from New Jersey. He no more represents the working-class white man than you do, Ayana." Barrett later criticized Taylor, whom he called a "negress," on his Nationalist Web site, saying that she misquoted him in the article. Her tapes and notes, however, showed otherwise.

According to the ADL, Barrett ran for governor of Mississippi in 1979, only drawing 2 percent of the vote. Then, in 1982, he self-published his autobiography, "The Commission," which Barrett's Nationalist website called the "textbook blueprint on Nationalism."

Previous Commentsshow

The South has lost a giant of a Southern gentleman and supporter. I'm tore up from the floor up.

Walt

Apr 22 2010

May seem rather crass, but I can't really feel sorry for his death. I didn't wish any harm to him, but he got his comeuppance.

golden eagle

Apr 22 2010

They have already arrested someone for it. http://www.my601.com/content/breaking/story/UPDATE-Early-Release-Inmate-Arrested-in-Barrett/J7yD5ms3a0q5Sxazz09b4Q.cspx

BubbaT

Apr 22 2010

BubbaT sorry for your loss.

NewJackson

Apr 22 2010

NewJackson- you're so funny.

BubbaT

Apr 22 2010

I'll say this...as a Christian I believe that God will enlighten Barrett as to how useless and wasteful his existence was given how much of it was devoted to promoting hate. Although Final Judgment is in God's hands, I feel that Barrett's final moments in that fire provided a sneak preview of what the afterlife might hold for him. As for the young man they arrested, if it is found true that he committed murder, he should be punished accordingly. My contempt for Mr. Barrett as a person doesn't mean his alleged killer should be automatically exempt from prosecution.

Jeff Lucas

Apr 23 2010

I find the parallels between this and the South African Terre Blanche murder (which took place just a few weeks ago) interesting. Like Barrett, Eugene Terre Blanche was a white nationalist leader - though far more prominent than Barrett - and was murdered over a wage dispute. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1977890,00.html Two men whose lives were defined by hate meet nearly identical ends. I'm not mourning either one.

Whitney

Apr 23 2010

Richard Barrett was the scum of the earth and the world is a better place now that he has gone. But even Barrett did not deserve to die in this manner. No one has the right to take another's life,no matter how worhtless that life was. I can't say I'm sorry Barrett is gone but I am truly sorry in the way in which his life ended.

wellington

Apr 23 2010

Two wrongs do make a right.

Rico

Apr 23 2010

Jerry Mitchell of the Clarion Ledger is saying Barrett may have asked for sex. Bubba what is wrong with y'all's republican leader? First you hate us, then when no one is looking you try to love us! Barrett said we're not regular people or as good as whites, but, according to Mitchell, Barrett may have been trying to sleep with one of us. I bet the young man told him although I've been in prison and you've worked me for nearly free (Jim Crow wages), I don't sleep with men and certainly not white supremacist men. This fits right in with my impression of Anne Coulter. I can tell from the looks in her eyes that she has a strong and unshakeable vibe for the brothers.

Walt

Apr 26 2010

Walt, so you see Ann Coulter as a homosexual segregationist with jungle fever? Seems about right. For what it's worth, McGee is now claiming that he had no idea Barrett was racist.

Brian C Johnson

Apr 26 2010

I be dat gone. When will we all learn the most dangerous brothers are reading brothers. McGee must not have watched the news, read any newspapers or engaged in any klan watch or personal education. All blacks should have known about Barrett eventhough he was just hot air like many racists. Apparently, he's slower than molasses at the north pole. I like his lawyer, though. I'll see him later this week. Brian, Coulter is probably a no limit soldier who will try anything when it comes to matter of the heart or body, but she's often grinning or smiling when she talks to black males. She and Reverend Al got a thang going on! Sometimes she even frowns as she duscusses us, but we all know a frown is a smile turned upside down. Maybe Tavis Smiley, Chris Rock or Ray Lewis will date her and love her back into a decent human being. Even a republican is susceptible to love and many of them got that der er jungle fever.

Walt

Apr 26 2010

According to Boondocks, the answer is yes she is. Unfortunately this site won't allow me to link to the video since the title has the b-word.

Jeff Lucas

Apr 27 2010

Jerry Mitchell of the Clarion Ledger is saying Barrett may have asked for sex. Bubba what is wrong with y'all's republican leader? First you hate us, then when no one is looking you try to love us! Walt-DAMN YOU! Snort of Diet Coke up the nose and out onto the computer!! I'll get back to you when I stop laughing.....

Lori G

Apr 27 2010

Just catching up: computer went down for a day! Argh. Anyway, for the record, I saw that WJTV reported the Barrett-might-have-asked-for-sex thing on Saturday, I believe. And people were talking about it on Facebook all weekend. That's kind of a tough thing to "report" unless you know for sure. It could be a "gay panic" excuse floated for defense purposes, or it could be true. We're trying not to jump too hard and fast on this salacious bandwagon.

DonnaLadd

Apr 27 2010

Thanks Donna, I get the interest "its the hypocrisy, stupid"..... but "gay panic" has been used far too many times in the past to aquit those accused of hate crimes against gays and lesbians. Though I can't bring myself to care all that much about the manner of Barrett's death, I do care about the precedent of excusing murder because a gay man or lesbian woman came on to the perpetrator.

Whitney

Apr 27 2010

My aoplogy mother Lori. I wasn't even trying to be funny at the time. I don't understand Bubba T's leaders. I agree that a killing isn't justified by propositioning for sex otherwise we would really have a shortage of people and nearly everyone would get killed at the clubs on the weekends.

Walt

Apr 27 2010

I guess if the young lad didn't know who Barrett was this dispenses with any chance it was a hate crime. He probably thought he was dealing with an old white man who saw him as slave Charlie.

Walt

Apr 27 2010

Walt- I don't have any leaders.

BubbaT

Apr 27 2010

What is interesting to me is Barrett continuing to live in a community where many whites have alread fled. I was shocked at the house and the condition of his lawn. Barrett's alledged killer's uncle said that his nephew and Barrett were no strangers to each other.

justjess

Apr 28 2010

Justjess, maybe in his twisted, racist, hateful mind he felt he was making a stand or statement that he wasn't intimated by or scared to live among us ignorant black savages since he was obviously of the "superior race". Who knows? Again, good riddance to P.O.S. human trash.

Jeff Lucas

Apr 28 2010

Yeah, so now the C-L is reporting the perp's claim that after Barrett cheated him of a decent pay for work, he was approached for sex by Barrett as a lame motive to murder him. There's a good reason I tell my son and his friends not to use that stupid sagging pants style, because you just don't know who's checking you out.

Jeff Lucas

May 4 2010

So Jeff you're saying a white supremacist who sees me as nothing more than fecal matter on his shoes or in his brithches can work me like a slave, pay me like Jim Crow, and when I complain about my money, he can drop his pants and offer me some Caesar money? Can't you see how some people would be highly offended by that and do something violent. This is the ultimate of disrespect. I ain't saying I would kill him but I would have likely knocked the crap out of him. McGee was wrong for killing him but I understand his anger. Sorry to lose such a fine southern gentleman and republican leader.

Walt

May 4 2010

So if he killed Barrett because he ask for sex, are they going to charge him with a hate crime?

BubbaT

May 4 2010

I am not trying to justify the young man taking Barrett's life, but, why do so many people have to pay for it? There are three other people in the mix: The guy who alledegly bought the gas for his lawn mower (to burn the body?), his mother (concealed information?) and his uncle. Four for one is a bit much!

justjess

May 5 2010

BubbaT, I don't think that charging him with a "sex crime" will make any difference at this point. He will get the death penalty and his execution will come quick, fast and in a hurry.

justjess

May 5 2010

[quote]So Jeff you're saying a white supremacist who sees me as nothing more than fecal matter on his shoes or in his brithches can work me like a slave, pay me like Jim Crow, and when I complain about my money, he can drop his pants and offer me some Caesar money? [/quote]No I'm not. I'm not sure how you could make such a ridiculous argument out of what I wrote. [quote]Can't you see how some people would be highly offended by that and do something violent. This is the ultimate of disrespect. [/quote]Yes I do understand and agree. I'm not above punching a SOB for disrespect. I've been in my share of fist fights over some disrespectful shit being said to my face. And I'm not above punching an old man for being an ass. But I draw the line at murder not done in self-defense against an armed attacker. [quote]I ain't saying I would kill him but I would have likely knocked the crap out of him. McGee was wrong for killing him but I understand his anger.[/quote]See, we actually agree 100%.

Jeff Lucas

May 5 2010

So if he killed Barrett because he ask for sex, are they going to charge him with a hate crime? Since there's no sexual orientation hate crime statute in Mississippi then the question is moot. (Unless there's a Federal charge brought, and one assumes that would only happen if there's a gross miscarriage of justice at the state level.)

Todd Stauffer

May 5 2010

Jeff a mere question isn't an argument! Secondly, you can go to jail for beating up old men who merely hurt your feelings. What if he dies during being beaten up by a black militant such as yourself. From your post I finally realize you're a black militant who will fight even an old man due to disrespect. He, he. Different people react differently to situations, occasions and stimuli. We individually aren't the standard by which judgement is measured. How about a reasonable man standard instead? Even better what about McGee's personal makeup. We don't know what else Barrett said or did to cause the altercation and killing. And we certainly don't know if murder or capital murder occurred. All killings don't amount to either charge. A grand jury can indict a ham sandwich, but can the charge be proven before a jury? McGee may not get the death penalty as many probably wishes or thinks he should eventhough the case might be tried in stankin Rankin County. I may get moved depending on the circumstances. Ridiculous is judging with so few facts and knowledge to support a conclusion. His motive may or may not be lame although we both agree Barrett probably shouldn't have been killed based on the little facts we know. I do understand where you're coming from though. Cheers.

Walt

May 5 2010

Secondly, you can go to jail for beating up old men who merely hurt your feelings. I know that, Walt...I've seen it happen (which is why I try to never throw the first punch ;) ). Thankfully all of my fights were as a teen on the playground but no police ever got involved. Look, sometimes you may have no choice but to fight back and accept the consequences. But a fine and/or a few months in jail for a simple assault charge sure beats several years-to-life for a murder conviction, relatively speaking. I'm entitled to have an opinion like everyone else based on what's been reported. But with respect to our legal system, I look forward to having the case weighed out in court, where more evidence and testimony will be revealed and a jury will decide on the merits of the young man's defense. We will never know with 100% certainty what was said between these two individuals, but it's up to a jury to decide this man's guilt or innocence in the eyes of the law, and what punishment should be imposed on this young man if found guilty. I hope McGee, if found guilty, won't get the death penalty either, considering the case will be tried in stankin Rankin. On that note, I'm outta this.

Jeff Lucas

May 6 2010