NAACP Sues State of Mississippi Over State-Run Police Department in Majority-Black Capital

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and other officials over a state-run police department and appointed judges in the majority-Black capital, Jackson. The organization warns of “separate and unequal policing,” saying that the legislation takes control of the police and some courts out of the hands of residents, thus treating Black people as “second-class citizens.” Jackson is governed by Democrats and has an 83% Black population, the highest of any major US city. Though the governor claims expanding the Capitol Police's jurisdiction into Jackson is necessary in response to rising violent crime, critics say it violates the principle of self-government. In a statement, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said, “If elected officials in Mississippi want to help address the results of their negligence and improve the lives of Jackson residents, they should start with completing improvements to Jackson's water system, not undermining the constitutional rights of their citizens.” Mississippi’s state House and Senate passed the controversial bill.

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