As the second orientation workshop for summer volunteers heading for Mississippi was taking place in Oxford, Ohio in June 1964, news reached the group that three civil rights worker were missing and presumed dead near Philadelphia, Mississippi. One of them, Andrew Goodman was a summer volunteer who had attended the previous workshop only a week before. Bob Moses announced the disappearances in an emotional speech and gave leave to those who feared for their safety to resign from the project. Only a few did, but for the rest it was a grim reminder of what might lie ahead.

For Ben Chaney, the younger brother of James Chaney, no reminder was necessary as he struggled to understand his brother's death and his new role in the family. Photographer David Prince formed a close bond with Ben and followed him through the funeral and subsequent memorial service.

At the Democratic Party National Convention in August, Mississippi Freedom Democrats, who were protesting at the Convention organized remembrance demonstrations for the three slain civil rights workers, and a year later on the anniversary of the deaths, CORE organized a march, which began in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the town where the three were turned over to the Klan, and concluded at the burned church. The march was watched by local whites and also by Deputy Sheriff Cecil Price, who was directly responsible for the murders. Price was never tried by Mississippi authorities, but was later convicted along with six others in federal court for violating the civil rights (by murder) of the three. He served four-and a half years. A full account of the murders is not possible here but an excellent one is available on Wikipedia.