Jackson Free Press

CNN has a shocking report today, including surveillance video of Rankin County teens accused of killing James Craig Anderson in a race murder in June. Warning: Video contains disturbing scenes.

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Wow! And people wonder why I am an advocate for the city of Jackson? For those boys to drive to Jackson, to look for trouble - says a lot about how certain media outlets portray the city of Jackson, with the type of reporting they do. Think about it, their intention was to drive TO JACKSON and find someone BLACK to do harm to? There are tons of black people in Vicksburg, Madison, Pearl and even in their own backyard of Rankin County - but they came to Jackson, to find a black person in Jackson to get into it with? Soundbites, negative perceptions and empty rhetoric all lead to this tragedy here.

Duan C.

Aug 8 2011

Agreed, Duan. The media bear huge blame for how people perceive Jackson. And the kinds of blatant bigotry we see in anonymous comments on local blogs and under Clarion-Ledger stories always play out in violence. These kinds of perceptions have long justified, in heads of young, confused men like Dedmon et al, heinous hate crimes.

DonnaLadd

Aug 8 2011

This makes me sick. Its the kind of news that makes one want to find a spot in the mountains and hide away. People need to realize that we are all in this life together, that we are one people, many faces and We are all connected. In order to make things better, we must ALL reject Fear - the basis for all hate, violence and anger. Everyone, no matter their physical appearance, their language, their technology, civilization, economic or geographic status, has the same needs, hopes, desires, longing for love and appreciation of beauty. Everyone has the same basic fears. We are all more alike than we are different. I often wonder what kind of tortured existence it must be to have so much fear (hate) within you at all times.

BobbyKearan

Aug 8 2011

The other thing we should all remember is that hate is something that must be taught. Children are born without prejudice ... those come later, and they don't happen in a vacuum. If the child hates (and an 18-year-old is still a child), he (or she) has learned hatred from his parents, or his teachers or his peers (who learned it from their parents). We have to learn how to break the cycle. It would also be enlightening to find out what other kinds of hateful behavior this boy and his friends have exhibited in the past and whether they ever received any counseling. It seems unlikely that they go from zero to murder without anything in between.

Ronni_Mott

Aug 8 2011

NYTimes has a short piece that mentions past behavior http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/us/09hate.html?scp=2&sq=mississippi&st=cse I'm sort of surprised at how few comments there are on here. I find this brutal event more unsettling than all the economic turmoil currently. Because it shows human behavior we don't want to acknowledge still lies beneath the polite manners of boys like these.

sunshine

Aug 9 2011

sunshine, I can't speak for others, but for myself, the reason I have not posted on this topic is that I am pretty well stunned - in horror and in shock. It is so disgusting that I don't even want to think about it. And yet I have to. And I look around at people in my community and I think, this is what people have been living with for years and years. When fools say "there is no more racism" and others tell them, yes there is, there is more work to do. It makes me so freaking sad. I want to tell that man's family that I am sorry that this happened. It is so horrifying that it is difficult to speak about it. That is why I have not posted before now. There are no words now that can make up for the price that he paid = his life.

Izzy

Aug 9 2011

I rather agree with sunshine: Every Mississippian should be speaking out against this. Not speaking up about what appears to be a blatant race crime makes us no better than, well, the folks who didn't speak out against the murder of Emmett Till, and so many others. Have we really changed, Mississippi? I believe yes, but let's prove it. The world is watching and waiting to her our outrage.

DonnaLadd

Aug 9 2011

I think the thing that is shocking me the most, is how many people didn't know about it, that live here. I guess I am more of a news junkie, CNN, MSNBC, WLBT, etc. etc - over stuff like Desperate Housewives and/or reality tv, so I am hip to most of the current events in and around Jackson and the country. But a friend of mine that lived in Jackson, but is currently residing in Baton Rouge, text me and asked me questions. He thought this was a recent incident and then he also informed me that he has family in Meridian and Jackson that didn't even knew it happened. Does anyone else have the feeling, this is going to be one of those NBC Dateline stories?

Duan C.

Aug 9 2011

Duan-This has been in the CL multiple times. In fact, only time I've seen a story in the CL that WAS NOT being covered anywhere else until CNN picked up the story. Its horrendous. And, I'm betting that kid did have some past behavior that is coming to light. As stated above, very rarely does it go from zero to murder. And, unfortunately, this kid's problems, hate, and illnesses (if there are any) will not be understood in the context of them being able to happen anywhere. They will be understood under the umbrella of it happening in Mississippi. Which I think almost leads others to dismiss the story as "something that happens down there" and that frightens and upsets me. I was actually upset when CNN picked up the story and went National with it yesterday. Until then, it was buried in the CL. Not that it doesn't deserve attention, it does. But, I have a feeling part of the ONLY reason it was picked up is because it was a Mississippi case.

Lori G

Aug 9 2011

Here's the unfortunate Facebook page set up in support of these boys. www.facebook.com Sadly, instead of condemning this action and recognizing it as the motorized lynching it is, these folks are accusing the media and prosecutor of playing the "race card". Donna's right. We have to name this crime, and stop letting people get away with claiming a race murder is anything other than a race murder.

Whitney

Aug 9 2011

I'm with you Izzy. I wonder if we could organize something, a candlelight vigil of some sort, to give our support to the family and show that this sort of hate has no place in modern day Mississippi - or anywhere else.

Whitney

Aug 9 2011

TV covered it, too, especially WAPT that I've seen. As for a vigil, we would absolutely help sponsor and promote that. Y'all come up with a date and a place, and let's do it. Excellent idea.

DonnaLadd

Aug 9 2011

Great! We need a time, place, and to decide if we want to do a rally with speakers or a vigil (or some combination of the two). I'll be out of town from the 12th-22nd, but I'm willing to help brainstorm and organize either on this blog or by phone/email. Just let me know!

Whitney

Aug 9 2011

Donna-That's where I missed it. I don't frequently watch local news channels. I read them! I think vigils are good things. It shows the family that the community cares about their family member. That he WAS a part of our community and we do not condone this.

Lori G

Aug 9 2011

All, District Attorney Robert Smith will be on Direct Line tonight at 7pm on comcast 14. He will have more info on the case and you'll have a chance to call in LIVE 601 914 0064 or tweet us @directlinetv23

Kamikaze

Aug 9 2011

Folks, let's do the vigil. We owe it to every black person every killed in this state because of his or her skin color. And we need to show these young whites growing up amid hate that there is another way.

DonnaLadd

Aug 9 2011

I am in support of a vigil.

Izzy

Aug 9 2011

Maybe at one of the churches or a college campus? Millsaps or Belhaven would be a nice touch. Or Smith Park? Other thoughts?

DonnaLadd

Aug 9 2011

Some Rankin County residents hostile toward blacks. What a shock? God rests the victim's soul. I know some of the victim's relatives. The tape of the man being run over is chilling. Who could watch that and not be bothered or rejoice at its occurrance? Only sick individuals. What could cause someone to do that? I would love to know the answer to that. The DA has to make everyone involved pay dearly. I thank CNN for running this story. The silence doesn't surprise me any. Mississippi has been in the business of denial and resistance every since slavery ended and James Crow, Sr. got jumped on and defeated. James Crow, Jr. and James Crow, III, have been wondering how to best show himself. I guess politic isn't sufficient? No matter how you look at it, it's so sad to see such a thing occuring here in Jackson and mississippi. I guess we need to get to packing too. Not to leave or run but to protect ourselves. Too bad the victim wasn't armed with some kind of human sprayer that shot multiple times. Yes, I know "war is not the answer for only love can conquer hate." Just thinking. I doubt panic is spreading. Good luck with the vigil, people. Thanks for the love and humanity you're expressing. I doubt I could come to that. The thought of the incident makes me too angry. Surely our national, state and local leaders are going to address the matter soon. Robert won't be left to fight this battle alone. It wouldn't look good.

Walt

Aug 9 2011

I like the idea of one of the churches. Of course, having it on a college campus may increase attendance..... What about JSU?

Whitney

Aug 9 2011

JSU would be great, but I know about y'all but I like the idea of it being on a majority-white campus to really send a message. But let's see who offers. ;-) I can imagine it being led by young preachers like Rev. C.J. Rhodes and Rev. Rob Hill, among others, though.

DonnaLadd

Aug 9 2011

Ya'll gonna have a vigil for each of the victims of the, 7 or 8 murders so far in Jakson this month also? Haven't seen a peep on here about them. Don't their murders mean something or do those victim not matter?

BubbaT

Aug 9 2011

I tweeted CJ, but haven't heard back. I would love to have him leading it. I don't know Rev. Rob, but I trust your judgment!

Whitney

Aug 9 2011

If there are going to be preachers there, then I think that inviting faith leaders from multiple traditions would add strength to the message. There are a couple of interfaith groups in town that could pave the way on that if we asked them to. Music could also add something.

Izzy

Aug 10 2011

Yes on Winter Institute. I'm friends with the director. I'll get her thoughts. Good idea. No, Bubba. I'm sure it's not obvious to you, but a straight-up hate crime -- when someone goes looking for someone, anyone of another race (in this case) just because they're of that race (or other "status") -- is a different kind of crime, and the kind that society must speak out against, unlike what our state did in the past. If not, sheltered white kids like those defending their friends over in Brandon will grow up now realizing that their friends like acted like Klansmen and they are acting like the ignorant white folks of the 1960s. (If accusations are correct.) And for God's sake, don't trot out the "all crime is hate crime" saw, because that is one of the most ignorant and apologist statements one can make. It shows a profound lack of understanding of crime itself. However, we are doing a special issue soon on how to *prevent* the kinds of crimes that have been happening in Jackson -- including the tragic problem of black-on-black crime and its roots. Most of our murders in Jackson are black-on-black, committed against acquaintances or family members, and drug-related. That is a serious problem, but they are not hate crimes. I remember when Chief Robert Moore tried to get a conversation going on black-on-black crime during Mayor Johnson's last term, and he couldn't get it to stick. The media were too busy trying to take the word "perception" out of context. He was seen nationally as an expert on the problem, but many local folks and reporters were too busy acting like they just fell off the turnip truck to do any actual research into criminal-justice myths and realities.

DonnaLadd

Aug 10 2011

I'm in support of a vigil too. Unfortunately, I'll be out of town until the 19th so hope I don't miss it. I recently broke up with a long time friend because she used the n-word in my presence and refused to admit fault or apologize. Now she blames me. It makes me so sad. I have stood up against racism so many times only to be shot down and left feeling alone. We have to stand up and speak out. We have to tell people it's not o.k. We have to quit tolerating the hateful language. This crime is different from the others and it should be treated differently.

MGN

Aug 10 2011

Join this vigil Sunday night that will walk from New Horizon Ministries one block to where Mr. Anderson was killed: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/attend_a_vigil_this_sunday_to_denounce_murder_of_james_craig_anderson/

DonnaLadd

Aug 12 2011