Jackson Free Press

Three Mississippi businesses that are participating in the If You're Buying, We're Selling sticker campaign are currently demanding that the American Family Association retract statements that accused them of discriminating against Christians. The three businesses include The Golden Growler, The Keg and Barrel, and La Finestra.

The AFA issued a news release on its website Monday that stated:

"Ironically, this sticker represents the very promotion of discrimination…against freedom of religious convictions. Businesses that display this sticker believe Christians should be forced, by law, to embrace homosexuality and deny their faith in personal business practices."

The entire news release can be read on the AFA's website: http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147545307.

Attorney Alexander Ignatiev of Hattiesburg, who represents the three businesses, issued the following statements in a cease and desist letter to AFA President Timony Wildmon on Wednesday:

"These statements are defamatory and actionable per se under the laws of the State of Mississippi, because they accuse my clients of unlawfully discriminating against persons in violating of the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1965, a felony . . . subjecting my clients to a penalty of up to ten years in prison. They are also materially false, and provably so, in connection with my clients, The Golden Growler, The Keg and Barrel, and La Finestra. These statements have been published with actual malice, which means that they have been published with reckless disregard for truthfulness, or with actual knowledge of their falsity, which removes any First Amendment protection from those statements."

Ignatiev is demanding that AFA remove the "materially false, reckless, unprotected statements" from the release within 7 days.

Rashad Crisler made his official announcement that he is running for Mayor Tony Yarber’s previous position, Ward 6 city councilman, this morning at a press conference outside City Hall.

Crisler said that he is enthusiastic about the prospect of being a part of a young, progressive leadership movement, which he believes was set into motion with Mayor Yarber’s initial election to council in 2009.

“He was only two years older than I am today when he earned the Ward 6 citizens’ trust to lead our community out of the brink of despair,” Crisler said. “I have known Mayor Yarber for many years and admired his leadership as our city councilman. I appreciate the example he has set and I am now prepared to take Ward 6 to the next level.”

It is well known that Crisler’s father, Marshand Crisler, was a big supporter of Yarber’s bids for both city councilman in 2009, and recently, as mayor; hence Rashaad Crisler sees a direct correlation between his bid for the Ward 6 seat and the efforts of Mayor Yarber and the elder Crisler during their respective tenures as city councilmen. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/weblogs/politics-blog/2014/may/13/after-speculation-crisler-no-not-that-one-announce/

Addressing the ward’s current needs, Crisler said that infrastructure would be his top priority since it is the weakest aspect of the ward. However, he feels that space is the ward’s greatest advantage and will allow for more businesses to move into the area. He also expressed interest in working to decrease crime in the area to make the area more appealing to business.

He admitted that he would like to address problems with council that he saw when his father held the seat previously, expressing a desire to work with the rest of city council to ensure success for the city as a whole.

“I’ve seen in the past, watching my father when he was in this seat, all the problems with communication between city council members, fighting and bickering over issues,” Crisler said.

“I want to bring the council members together, all on one accord, to get a plan done to present to the mayor so he can execute it.”

http://jacksonfreepress.com/users/photos/2014/may/14/17423/

Wayne Lewis, a Jackson native and longtime resident of Ward 6, called the Jackson Free Press office today to announce that he is entering into the election for the Ward 6 City Council seat. He also emailed the following verbatim biography:

A native of Jackson, MS. Wayne L Lewis was born and raised in the Shady Oaks Subdivision. He has lived in Ward 6 for the past 19 years. A product of the Jackson Public Schools, Lewis received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS and a MBA from Millsaps College Else School of Management.

He has served in various leadership roles in the faith based community impacting the lives of families while serving the public as a Jackson Police Office for many years. He is currently employed at Eaton Aero- Space with 17 years of service. He is the Founder of Rhema Word Ministries where he serves as Senior Pastor, and uses this ministry to give back to the community and youth around the city by sponsoring youth initiative programs, including sporting events in Ward 6, where he volunteers to serve as Coach, mentor and counselor for Little League Baseball teams.

Lewis has a wealth of leadership experience from the manufacturing industry and faith based arenas. He has a passion for the youth of the community and gives of himself to take an active role to impact their lives, where he will continue to serve his community as a servant of the people. Wayne Lewis is well connected to Ward 6 where he and his wife, Roberta Lewis are raising two boys.

• Former JPD Officer • Lived in Ward 6 for 19 years • Pastor / Teacher • Wayne Lewis, BSBA, MBA

The Human Rights Campaign has just issued the following verbatim new release detailing HRC President Chad Griffin's tour schedule for Project One America next week:

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin will Launch ‘Project One America’ at Events in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas, Beginning an Unprecedented Push for LGBT Rights in the South Griffin is also available for satellite television interviews from Little Rock, AR on Monday, May 12 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM (CT)

Washington, D.C. — Next week, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin will travel to Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas to officially launch Project One America, an unprecedented effort to dramatically expand LGBT equality in the South. This substantial and lasting initiative—with a three year budget of $8.5 million, dedicated staff of 20, and new offices in each state—is the largest coordinated campaign for LGBT equality in the history of the South.

On Monday, May 12th, Griffin will kick-off a three-day tour of press conferences and community gatherings in Little Rock, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Montgomery, and Birmingham. He will be joined by local officials, business leaders, clergy members, and members of the LGBT community at each stop along the way.

Griffin will also be available for television interviews via satellite on Monday, May 12, from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (CT). Please email Nick Morrow at [email protected] and Emily Black at [email protected] to book an interview and receive satellite coordinates.

Download Project One America’s launch video package here, and click here for a high-res Project One America graphic.

Project One America will focus on making progress on three fronts—changing hearts and minds, advancing enduring legal protections, and building more inclusive institutions for LGBT people from the church pew to the workplace. HRC Mississippi, HRC Alabama, and HRC Arkansas will be anchored by full-time local staff and dedicated in-state office space to guarantee a round-the-clock effort. These states have been under-resourced for too long and HRC is making a long-term investment to advance LGBT equality. The program will continue until there is One America.

The first initiative of its kind in the south, Project One America will work to advance equality in areas that do not have existing non-discrimination protections for LGBT people at the state or local level in employment, housing or public accommodations, and where the state’s constitution expressly prohibits marriage equality.

For further information on Project One America, see HRC’s press release and fact sheet.

The full schedule for the Project One America Tour is below. Please RSVP to [email protected] and [email protected] so that we may ensure the necessary space and logistical arrangements are made.

*PROJECT ONE AMERICA KICK-OFF TOUR SCHEDULE *

MONDAY, MAY 12: LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

11:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)

WHAT: Press Conference to Kick Off Project One America in Arkansas

WHERE: State Capitol, Old Supreme Court Chamber

 500 Woodlane Drive, Little Rock, AR 72201 

WHO: HRC President Chad Griffin; Betty and Butch Hightower, mother and stepfather

of Chad Griffin; Sen. Joyce Elliott; Rev. Leroy James, Christian Ministerial Alliance; Rita Sklar, …