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12/2/96:		 Recent newspaper reports suggest that Justice Thurgood Marshall may have cooperated with the FBI during the middle part of this century. Given the insensitive image of the FBI during this period under J. Edgar Hoover, does this disclosure change (or even challenge) your view of Justice Marshall as a hero in the war to improve civil rights?




Name: Patti
Email: patrondee
Response: Historically, this country has attempted to discredit those African-Americans held in high regard by not only our race but others as well. Thurgood Marshall will forever be a hero to me. If he did have an association with the FBI that was improper I would still be a supporter of his. Marshall's contributions far outweigh any perceived faults as far as I am concerned. Bottom line....we've all made decisions that were less than what others have come to expect from us, why would Justice Marshall be any differ


Name: Serious in Chicago
Email:
Response: I question the reason why the FBI has made this information available to the public so soon after Justice Marshall's death (that is if it is accurate). With the FBI's history of making aquisition of information virtually impossible (i.e. Dr. King, JFK, etc.), why would they now decide to make this tidbit available? I think we should question the bureau's motive and I don't think we should put much stock into this allegation. On the other hand, if he did "cooperate", it will never diminish the respect and admiration I have for Justice Marshall. The good he has done for his people, far outweighs any ALLEGED traitorous acts on his part. I really believe some would like to taint his good name in an attempt to further divide us and possibly keep him out of the history books - or at least make him appear less desireable or worthy of accolade. They are well aware that this news comes at a time of great divide amongst America's people. They are going to do everything possible to throw us off track, and keep relevant issues like the Contra drug affair and inequities in the legal justice system, far in the background.


Name: Gene
Email: ap065@osfn.rhilinet.gov
Response: The revelations do not change my view of Thurgood Marshall. It confirms in my mind that he was wise enough to recognize communist infiltration as a threat to the movement. His working with the FBI to eliminate the infiltration effectively prevented the communists from pulling down the movement.


Name: chboles
Email: chboles@voyager.com
Response: Those lies certainly do not change my view of Thurgood Marshall. because to me he is still the hero he's always been


Name: M.K. Craft
Email: MCraft3232
Response: I don't think so! Being a champion of people causes, Justice Marshall never gave me the impression that he would bow down to the establishment in that fashion. However, if he did, I'm sure that it was done with serious thought and that Justice Marshall felt that it was in the best intrest of and for the majority. Also, if he did his back was to the wall and he didn't have a choice.


I Name: Frances Murphy
Email: FrankieLou@aol.com
Response: NAACP head Kweisi Mfume said what many people believe -- that what you have read in the White press is just not the whole story. Hoover was no friend to Mr. Marshall or any Black person for that matter, so who knows what trash could have been put in the justice's FBI files to make him look bad. Thurgood Marshall was one of the greatest men of his time. He was someone we all knew well and respected... and still do.