Did Robert C Byrd say this I'll never fight with a negro by my side Rather i die a 1000 deaths than see my beloved land degraded by race mongrels?

Yes, Robert C. Byrd, a former U.S. Senator from West Virginia, did make a statement reflecting racist views in the past, including comments about not wanting to fight alongside African Americans. He was known for his affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan in his youth and expressed views that have been widely criticized. However, Byrd later renounced his earlier beliefs and sought to make amends for his past actions.