Freemen prosecuter honored with John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award
[May 12, 1998]

Despite death threats, attorney Nicholas C. Murnion prosecuted members of the Freemen militia group for felony charges. On May 11th, Murnion was honored with the ninth John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award, including a $25,000 prize from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. According to the Miami Herald [May 12, 1998], "Murnion prosecuted Freemen members on felony charges including 'criminal syndicalism,' a state law making it a felony to belong to a group that promotes violence or terrorism for political ends. He won convictions in the three Freemen cases he prosecuted, including the first conviction under the syndicalism law."