</s>Natchez, Mississippi 4/24/68 SILVER DOLLAR GROUP Source advised that to his knowledge there is no Silver Dollar activity in the Natchez area at the present time. He stated that on the night of 4/23/68 RALEIGH JACKSON GLOVER, DON WILKINSON, JAMES SCARBOROUGH and three young men, one believed to be a LEE (FNU), were together at Morgan's Restaurant in NatcheZ, Miss. Source was not aware of the purpose of this meet. YOUTH KLAN GROUP Source advised this he is not aware of any Youth Klan Group in the Natchez area. BURNING OF ROXIE HEADSTART CENTER ROXIE, MISS. Source advisedthat he overheard from someone that REGIE P. CARTER, DEXTER BYRD, and JOE LEE HARDY were responsible for the burning of the Roxie Headstart Center. He could not recall where he received this information. MURKIN Source was shown the Wanted Flyer #442A, issued April 19, 1968, for JAMES EARL RAY, and stated he is NOT aware of his identity or whereabouts. WHARBROM Source advised That he was unable to furnish any additional information pertaining to the murder of WHARLEST JACKSON, UNSUBBS: GEORGE METCALIFE - VICTIM CR - BOMBING MATTER Source was unableto provide any additional 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The declassified documents consist of **FBI surveillance and intelligence reports** from 1968, primarily documenting monitoring activities in Mississippi and surrounding areas during the late 1960s. These records focus on civil rights activism, racial tensions, and organized groups such as white supremacist organizations and civil rights entities. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, is referenced as a catalyst for unrest, with reports noting concerns about retaliatory violence in Mississippi. Key themes include FBI surveillance of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), United Klans of America (UKA), and civil rights groups like the Congress of Black Students (CUBS) and NAACP. The documents also detail incidents of racial violence, including church burnings and shootings, attributed to white supremacist groups. Informant networks were central to FBI operations, with individuals such as Rayford Palmer, Charles Merchant, and Roy Wilkins mentioned in relation to civil rights activities or Klan leadership.  

Key People  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.:** His assassination on April 4, 1968, is referenced as a pivotal event triggering unrest and surveillance.  
- **Rayford Palmer:** Suspected KKK leader in Scott County, Mississippi; described as "quiet and secretive."  
- **Charles Merchant:** Former leader of the United Klans of America (UKA) in Scott County; removed from leadership after UKA’s charter was revoked.  
- **Roy Wilkins:** Executive Director of the NAACP who visited Meridian, Mississippi, to speak at a church following King’s assassination.  
- **Vick West:** Allegedly claimed the CIA killed MLK and expressed distrust in law enforcement.  
- **Norman Lee:** Attempted to re-activate the KKK, sought employment, and was involved in local conflicts.  
- **Leonard Caves:** Reported as disinterested in KKK activities.  
- **Robert E. Rivers:** Left his job to start a chicken business but was monitored by authorities.  

Key Locations  
- **Mississippi (specifically Scott County, Meridian, Laurel):** Central locations for Klan meetings, civil rights gatherings, and incidents of violence.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi:** Site of planned CUBS training seminars.  
- **Meridian, Mississippi:** Center for church burnings and retaliatory attacks following King’s assassination.  

Key Events  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination (April 4, 1968):** Sparked widespread unrest and prompted FBI monitoring of potential violence in Mississippi.  
- **Church Burnings (e.g., Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, April 14, 1968):** Attributed to white supremacist groups; linked to racial tensions.  
- **Shootings into Residences:** Multiple incidents targeting Black residents in Meridian, connected to racial conflict.  
- **Klan Meetings and Activities:** Noted in Scott County, including UKA’s revoked charter after Charles Merchant’s removal.  
- **Civil Rights Gatherings:** Marches and memorials in Meridian organized by Black leaders to address racial injustice post-King’s assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Ku Klux Klan (KKK):** Monitored for leadership activities, particularly in Scott County, with Rayford Palmer and Charles Merchant under scrutiny.  
- **United Klans of America (UKA):** Revoked charter in Scott County after Charles Merchant’s removal; monitored for racial agitation.  
- **Congress of Black Students (CUBS):** Tracked for planned training seminars in Jackson, Mississippi.  
- **NAACP:** Mentioned through Roy Wilkins’ visit to Meridian following King’s assassination.  
- **FBI:** Central agency conducting surveillance on both civil rights groups and white supremacist organizations during the Civil Rights Movement era.

MLK Declassified Files

157-jn-9586_624938_427c-03-part_2_of_6.pdf

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