Headline: Black Mississippi Capital Distrusts White Officials’ Plans as U.S. Justice Department Challenges New Law
Subheadline: U.S. Justice Department alleges race-based discrimination against majority-Black Hinds County in a new law mandating appointment of prosecutors and special judges
In a move that has sparked controversy and concerns over racial discrimination, Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city, Jackson, is expressing its distrust of mostly white state legislators who are pushing for changes that residents believe encroach on their rights of self-government. The Republican lawmakers claim that their intention is to reduce crime rates and improve water service, but critics argue that these measures disproportionately target and harm the Black population of the city and county.
The U.S. Justice Department has now filed a complaint, supporting the allegations made by the majority-Black Hinds County and its residents. The complaint challenges a recently enacted Mississippi law that mandates the appointment of prosecutors and special judges, effectively creating a separate court system in part of Jackson. Under the law, prosecutors are appointed by the Mississippi attorney general, and a judge is appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice. Additionally, four new special circuit court judges will be appointed by the chief justice to work alongside the elected judges in Hinds County.
According to the Department of Justice, this new law discriminates against Black residents by shifting the authority of the county’s justice system to unelected officials who are not democratically accountable. Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, asserts that Mississippi lawmakers have engineered a “crude scheme” that singles out and discriminates against Black residents in Jackson and Hinds County, in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Clarke argues that this law creates a new, two-tiered system of justice that diminishes the power, voice, and resources of the predominantly-Black electorate.
The NAACP’s federal lawsuit, filed against the state shortly after the law was signed, has gained support from the Justice Department. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson claims that the new law adds to a history of discriminatory disinvestment and neglect from the state government. Jackson, with a population that is over 79.5% Black, has faced years of neglect, including a water crisis that began in August 2022.
While the complaint challenges the appointment of prosecutors and judges, it does not contest the police expansion that is also part of the law. However, the NAACP’s lawsuit argues that expanding the reach of the state-run police department in Jackson violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection.
Critics argue that this law undermines self-governance in Jackson and Hinds County, while legislators maintain that it is necessary for improving safety in a city that has experienced a high murder rate in recent years. The law, however, has been temporarily blocked from taking effect by U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate.
This dispute sheds light on the long history of discrimination and inadequate investments in Jackson. The Justice Department points out that Mississippi officials have repeatedly shortchanged the city and county, failing to provide necessary resources, funding, and personnel. Furthermore, they accuse Governor Tate Reeves of selectively using his veto power to cut funding for Jackson institutions while leaving other cities untouched.
The racial polarization of voting is another issue highlighted in the complaint. While Black voters in Jackson have consistently elected Black candidates, the department claims that white Mississippi officials have expressed a lack of trust in predominantly elected Black officials, making public statements that criticize local Black leadership and attempt to erode their control.
The U.S. Justice Department’s decision to join the NAACP’s lawsuit signifies a significant development in the fight against racial discrimination and unequal treatment in Mississippi. The outcome of the case will determine the future of self-governance and equal protection for Black residents in Hinds County and may set a precedent for challenges to similar laws across the country.
Contributing: Associated Press