Mississippi pushes more state policing in mostly Black city
Associated Press— The majority-white and Republican-led Mississippi Legislature is taking final steps to expand the the territory of a state-run police department inside the capital city of Jackson, which is majority-Black and governed by Democrats. Critics say the proposal would stomp on local self-governance and create unequal systems of justice in different parts Jackson, which has the highest percentage of Black residents of any major U.S. city. Senators on Thursday passed the final version of a bill that Democratic Sen. John Horhn of Jackson called “toxic,” with 31 Republicans voting yes and 15 Democrats voting no. “This has truly been about helping the citizens of Jackson in a time of need.” The proposal for state control has angered Jackson residents who don’t want their voices diminished in local government, and it is the latest example of the long-running tensions between the Republican-run state government and the Democratic-run capital city.