Jackson Free Press

Nice. From the Ledge:

Oktibbeha County supervisors have voted against allowing a monument on the courthouse grounds honoring local civil rights leaders. Supervisors voted 3-2 Monday along racial lines against the monument. Board president Terry Kellum said the monument requests on the courthouse grounds have gotten out of control.

About a month ago, the board approved a monument in honor of Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

I guess the civil rights monument is as good a place to draw the line as any. Sigh. And this town is the one that prides itself on being the not-Oxford of civil rights history. Go on, y'all.

Previous Commentsshow

the worry that you're crowding the Court House lawn with too many monuments is rather unique, if weak. Why not stop after the Civil Rights MOnument? Unless they've got a real small yard...

Ironghost

Jul 21 2006

You know, the most beautiful and poignant Civil Rights Monument I have ever seen is that fountain monument in Montgomery in front of the Southern Poverty Law Center. In part the inscription says......."And Justice Flows Down Like a Mighty Stream".....that ought to be the foot print for all of them.....my point is that a monument can serve the civic purpose in the form of a fountain or many things. It doesn't have to be like that ugly thing in front of the Hinds County Court House about the Vietman War....you know like something that emotionally punishes people while reminding them......I think that's what makes the Okibbeha folks apprehensive about yet another monument.

ATLExile

Jul 21 2006

But Ironghost you are right it is a very small lawn....if I remember correctly. The courthouse itself is like zero lot line.....unless they built a new one in the last 10 years or so.....l

ATLExile

Jul 21 2006

I've had an epic battle in that courthouse where a jury composed of 11 whites and 1 black voted to spare the life of a career black criminal defendant who allegedly killed a very nice white women. Clearly, there is still an effort to maintain white supremacy there. I felt great hate for me during the trial from almost all whites including many of those sitting on the jury. I can make a strong argument that the defendant should have been acquitted; however, not a single white person on that jury voted for death. Upon later interviewing some of the jurors, I learned many of them felt there was residual doubt as to guilt, and that I failed to prove the defendant totally innocent. Mind you, that not my job, as I only have to show reasonable doubt. It's the prosecutor's job to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The law doesn't require me to prove the defendant's innocence as everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The hate doesn't bother me. I expect it from all majority-race court personnel including the judge. I'm used to it, and probably wouldn't know what to do without it. It's a great motivating force for me. Hopefully, the conviction will be successfully appealed by the local public defender who I assisted. Since I got a unanimous life verdict, although I probably deserved an outright agquittal, the death penalty can never be sought again against the defendant should he get a reversal and new trial. I'm not surprised of the approval of the confederate monument and disapproval of the civil rights one. I believe the Board of Supervisors is composed of mostly white males.

Ray Carter

Jul 21 2006

oh and by the way....when is the New Federal Courthouse in Jackson going to get going? A very nice building. Huge from what I can tell. Very contemporary and done by one of the Nation's leading Architectural firms in New York in conjunction with Dale & Associates in Jackson. But that's OK as DT needs more good comtemporary design. Everything can't be Columns and Pediments Folks!

ATLExile

Jul 21 2006

My comment isn't on the topic of your blog, but I just wanted to congratulate you for beating the CL at the Ice Cream Safari yesterday! Thanks for coming, and it was great to meet you! :)

SelahLady

Jul 23 2006