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www.mississippilink.com VOL. 26, NO. 14 JANUARY 23 - 29, 2020 50¢ Reeves: “I believe there is a leadership crisis in the system.” Rev. William Barber Governor selects committee addresses systemic racism, poverty to search for new MDOC and voting rights commissioner; appoints interim By Othor Cain Editor Tate Reeves was sworn in as Mississippi’s 65th governor Tuesday, Jan. 14, prior to be- ing elected governor, he served as lieutenant governor for the past eight years. In his capacity as lieutenant governor, Reeves presided over the state Senate and had much infl uence over the state budget and the funding at the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), an agency he now says is “experiencing a Reverend William Barber II, president of the North Carolina state leadership crisis.” chapter of the NAACP, delivered an electrifying speech during MDOC is the magnolia state’s the 2017 NNPA Mid-Winter Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. prison system and just this past PHOTO: FREDDIE ALLEN/AMG/NNPA weekend amid reports of riots, prison escapes and other inhu- By Stacy M. Brown the war economy in the U.S. NNPA Newswire Correspondent mane videos circulating on social They said the fi ndings have media, two inmates died, bring- Following the Shelby already helped to inform and ing the total reported to seven County v. Holder Supreme build state and local, nonpar- inmates that have died in the past Court case, which gutted tisan fusion movements that few weeks. Reeves Flaggs key provisions of the Voting are committed to challenging To make matters worse, two Rights Act, 14 states had new laws and policies that are an- of MDOC’s top offi cials stepped tion, highlighting a severe offi cer rectional offi cers was denied by all seen the catastrophe that the voting restrictions in place tithetical to the broad tenets down earlier this month. shortage of guards and offi cers lawmakers, while Reeves served current state of our prison sys- before the 2016 Presidential of social justice. Former MDOC Commis- that plagued the agency. Hall’s as lieutenant governor. tem has allowed for, we must election, and there were 868 Barber and Theoharris, who sioner Pelicia Hall, shined a request for pay raises for entry In his fi rst press briefi ng as fewer polling places across is a pastor from New York, Reeves light on the gravity of the situa- level starting salaries for cor- governor, Reeves said, “We have the country, according to the told the Black Press that the Continued on page 3 Poor Peoples Campaign. ranks of the Poor People’s Rev. William Barber II be- Campaign would increase as lieves that everyone has a they broaden their efforts. right to live. They noted fi gures that Through his Poor People’s show 140 million poor and Inhumane conditions, violence and Campaign, Barber is continu- low-wealth people live in ing to build a movement to the United States – from ev- overcome systemic racism, ery race, creed, sexuality and death represent everyday life systemic poverty, ecological place. devastation, militarism of the “We aim to make sure these budget and the false moral individuals are no longer ig- narrative of white religious nored, dismissed or pushed at Mississippi’s Parchman Prison nationalism. to the margins of our political In an exclusive telephone and social agenda,” Theohar- conference with the Black ris stated. Press of America, Barber and With 2020 counting as a his Poor People’s Campaign pivotal election year, Barber co-chair, Rev. Liz Theohar- pointed out that voter sup- ris, said America has a moral pression laws in many states crisis. have only contributed to pov- “Democrats run from pov- erty. erty and Republicans racialize The Poor People’s Cam- poverty,” Barber stated during paign has noted that, since the more than one-hour dis- 2010, 23 states have passed cussion. racist voter suppression laws, “We have invited both sides including racist gerrymander- of the political fence. We’ve ing and redistricting statutes invited the White House that make it harder to register. to come and talk with us. Because of this, early vot- They’ve refused,” stated Bar- ing days and hours have re- ber, the founder of Repairers duced, offi cials have purged of the Breach, a national lead- voter rolls, and there have ership development organiza- been more restrictive voter ID tion, which expands upon his laws. Moral Monday movement. While these laws have dis- “This administration has proportionately targeted black been virtually silent on the is- people, at least 17 states saw sue of poverty. The president voter suppression cases tar- talked about unemployment geting American Indian and being down, but underem- Alaskan Native voters in ployment is up. The number 2016, Barber stated. By Stacy M. Brown worst detention facilities in the In the suite fi led in U.S. Dis- Pelicia Hall and Mississippi of people that have dropped “Thirteen states that passed NNPA Newswire Correspondent world, according to reform ad- trict Court in Greenville, Mis- State Penitentiary Superinten- out of the workforce is up,” voter suppression laws also Tuesday, January 14, hip-hop vocates and human rights orga- sissippi, Jay-Z addressed the dent Marshall Turner as defen- said Barber, who, along opted not to accept expanded superstar Jay-Z sued the head nizations. recent deaths at the prison. dants. with Theoharris, and others Medicaid benefi ts offered un- of the Mississippi Department Death and violence are ram- “These deaths are a direct Earlier this month, hip-hop launched the Poor People’s der the Affordable Care Act,” of Corrections and the warden pant, many inmates are without result of Mississippi’s utter stars T.I., and Yo Gotti called Campaign, spearheaded ini- he added. on behalf of 29 prisoners who beds, and electricity, plumbing, disregard for the people it has on the governor to close the tially by Dr. Martin Luther “These attacks follow a have complained that offi cials and fundamental human rights incarcerated and their constitu- prison or to address the issues King Jr. broader pattern of restrict- have done nothing to stop the are absent. At the same time, tional rights,” the mogul said in adequately. The campaign conducted ing and curtailing democratic violence at Parchman. The con- mold, roaches, mosquitos and the court fi ling. “This is unacceptable,” T.I. what it said was a 50-year au- processes by drawing on lega- ditions at Mississippi’s Parch- rodents far outnumber the more The suit names Department Parchman dit of systemic racism, pover- Barber man prison makes it one of the than 5,000 inmates. of Corrections Commissioner Continued on page 3 ty, ecological devastation and Continued on page 3 Jackson’s Zeta Delivered by Share this issue with a friend Phi Beta Sorority Midwives by mailing it to: welcomes sisters Inside homecoming Page 18 Page 17 LOCAL 2 • THE MISSISSIPPI LINK JANUARY 23 - 29, 2020 www.mississippilink.com Hinds County Board Of Supervisors assisting Hinds County Sheriff with detention offi cer recruitment Mississippi Link Newswire capacity of sheriff’s deputy starting as • Be a Unites States citizen Raymond, MS 39154. Among other physical improve- a detention offi cer. With a starting sal- • Be able to pass a background in- Additionally, applications may be ments to the Hinds County Raymond ary of $27,500.04 annually, there is a vestigation and drug screen. picked up in the Hinds County Per- Detention, the Hinds County Board clear direction for advancement once All interested men and women, who sonnel/Human Resources Offi ce lo- of Supervisors is partnering with an individual is hired and trained. are looking for a stable, rewarding ca- cated on the 2nd fl oor of the Hinds the new Hinds County Sheriff, Lee The Hinds County Board is looking reer as a public servant and willing to County Chancery Court Building or Vance, to increase the number of de- to assist the sheriff in adding a mini- put forth an honest effort are encour- at the security desks on the 1st fl oor tention offi cers in an effort to promote mum of 40 new detention offi cers aged to apply for the detention offi cer of the Hinds County Chancery Court public, offi cer and inmate safety and through this recruitment drive in the position immediately. (316 S. President Street, Jackson, MS secure the jail. coming weeks. Applications can be obtained or 39201) and Circuit Court Buildings In a press conference January 15, Positions are available for all three at the Hinds County Sheriff’s Offi ce (407 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, Vance announced that the Sheriff’s shifts. Applicants must: behind the Circuit Court Building at MS 39201). Department is initiating a career path • Be at least 21 years of age 407 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, For more information contact the for individuals interested in serving • Possess a high school diploma or MS 39201 or at the Raymond Deten- Hinds County Sheriff’s Offi ce at 601 the Hinds County community in the equivalent (GED) tion Center, 1450 County Farm Road, 974-2900. Vance JPD 59th Recruit Class September 29, 2019 - January 17, 2020 William L. Skinner Training Academy Jackson, MS PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON www.mississippilink.com JANUARY 23 - 29, 2020 THE MISSISSIPPI LINK • 3 Reeves Barber Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 right the wrongs. ”I believe there is tant to continue playing the blame cies of racism to undermine local Assembly and Moral March on tration’s controversial immigration a leadership crisis in the system,” game.” efforts to organize for better condi- Washington, June 20, during which policies.

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