Jackson Free Press

Last weekend, I happened by local television news and saw a report about Madison police officers going on a high-speed chase through the streets of Jackson—because of a problem that happened in the Target in Jackson, ending in a crash that seriously injured a bystander. Huh?

Also, looking at the website of the Starkville Daily News on Feb. 21, I had seen a short news report about Starkville police pursuing two teenagers through the streets of Starkville ending in a two-car collision. What were they charged with? "[S]uspicion of felony fleeing law enforcement officers." Huh? Starkville police pursued people in a dangerous chase that could injure or kill bystanders -- to charge them with fleeing? Why were they pursuing them in the first place, Daily News? (We're going to ask.)

The JFP has long reported about dangerous police chases, often in pursuit of non-violent criminals. Some of those chases end in serious injury or death. See this extensive report on the problem: "Code Blue: Police Pursuits Cost a Life a Day". It always amazes me that residents don't get more outraged (until one of their family members is killed) at these dangerous chases. And, even more startling, is how few questions local media often ask about the necessity of the chases.

I was pleased to see this release from the Jackson Police Department (which seems to have matured on this issue over the years). JPD is asking serious questions about why Madison police were engaged in dangerous pursuits outside their jurisdiction. Here is the statement, verbatim:

On February 23, 2014, the Madison Police Department engaged in a hot pursuit chase in that began in the Jackson city limits. Based on the information compiled by the Jackson Police Department, an alleged incident occurred at the Target Store in Jackson and outside the jurisdiction of the Madison Police Department. According to the incident reports Madison Police Officers engaged in a high chase pursuit without the authority or assistance of the Jackson Police Department. The Madison officers had no arrest powers for an alleged crime that occurred in the city of Jackson. There was no request for assistance to investigate a crime in Jackson. The officers only contacted JPD after they were already on scene at the Target Store and pursued a high speed chase.

The Jackson Police Department policy regarding high chase pursuits takes into consideration the inherent dangers of high speed chases on the public thoroughfares. The facts that have been presented to date did not show that a criminal act occurred that would justify a high speed chase. As a result of the action taken, at least one innocent by-stander was seriously injured. As a result of the actions taken by the Madison police officers, the Jackson Police Department has solicited the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations (MBI) to conduct an independent investigation. Public safety in the City of Jackson is this Department’s ultimate concern and responsibility. We encourage the assistance of other agencies but only within the …

Sharon Grisham-Stewart, the Hinds County coroner, told the Jackson Free Press this afternoon that she is not planning an autopsy for the late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

Lumumba died Tuesday, Feb. 25, of what Grisham-Stewart has said were "natural causes," seven months into his first term as mayor of Jackson.

Lumumba, who was 66 at the time of his death, had several bouts with illness over the years, including pneumonia that put him in the hospital in 2012 and prostate cancer several years ago.

It's not clear whether Lumumba's family will seek a private autopsy. Lumumba's services are scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m. at the Jackson Convention Center. There will be a wake on Friday, March 7 at City Hall, according to administration officials.

Lumumba died at St. Dominic's Hospital at the age of 66 with his long-time partner, Gloria Elmore, at his side.

Services for late Mayor Chokwe Lumumba are scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m. at the Jackson Convention Center. There will be a wake on Friday, March 7 at City Hall, according to administration officials.

Lumumba died Tuesday at St. Dominic's Hospital at the age of 66 with his long-time partner, Gloria Elmore, at his side. So far, no official cause of death is known.

Read more about Lumumba here.

All, we are putting together a special tribute issue to Chokwe Lumumba for next week. Please add your messages below, and we will include what we can and link back to the rest. I'll start with a letter the Greater Jackson Chamber leadership sent to members today:

February 26, 2014

Dear GJCP Members:

The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership is deeply saddened by Mayor Chokwe Lumumba’s departure from this earthly life. He was a great leader, with unique personality and talent. His keen intellectual grasp of the tough issues facing the City of Jackson was important, but it was his ability to rally everyone to action on those issues that truly made him special. His time in office may have been cut short, but his impact on moving this city forward will have long standing implications.

Today we grieve with the rest of the community, but we also cerebrate the achievements of Chokwe Lumumba. We had a strong and productive working relationship with the Mayor. Furthermore, in an unexpected twist, we developed a sincere personal relationship. So today we grieve the loss of this dear friend, and realize how blessed we are to have had him as a leader and public servant. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor Lumumba’s family, his friends and this community.

Sincerely,

Andy Taggart Chairman of the Board Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Duane O'Neill President Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

I felt like I was kicked in the stomach when Todd stuck his head in my office after the paper went to the printer today to tell me we were hearing reports that Mayor Chokwe Lumumba had died. Our photographer and news editor ran off to City Hall, which I can see from my office, and I took over mission control to try to confirm and get the news out.

But my hands were shaking. What happens to the city now?

What's remarkable is how much such a divisive figure was bringing our city together. Even though his ideas were rather, let's admit it, socialist, I've been hearing from conservatives every day about how much they like him. And over and over again, people would talk about how he was a "good" person and how he got along with so many different people.

We already knew that about him, even though our jury was out on whether his vision for Jackson was possible or workable. I've long liked him—ever since his attorney kicked me out of a rally for him in 2002 because I was white, and then Lumumba invited me back after I wrote a fair story about the attempt to disbar him. He was always respectful to me after that.

There is much to be said in the days ahead, but my overwhelming thought right now is whether we can maintain the detente that Lumumba—the tall brother with the little hat, you might call him—managed to bring to a city that was so terribly divided during his campaign, when it was believed by many that Jackson's future relied on making sure he didn't get elected.

The truth is, Jackson's future relies on all of us working together despite differences—something our city and state haven't been good at. I pray that we don't return to our old ways after his death. We need to learn lessons that he taught us.

Time will tell. For now, the Jackson Free Press sends prayers out to his family at this very difficult time. May peace be with them.

People in Jackson and around the world are responding to the news that first-term mayor Chokwe Lumumba died this afternoon.

The For immediate release Statement of Jake Martin, President of the Delta Gamma Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity:

“Recent events on the campus of our college, The University of Mississippi, were insensitive, harmful to student campus life, and criminal. The individuals or group found responsible for the desecration of the James Meredith statue should be dealt with in the most appropriate severe manner. The Meredith campus symbol stands not only to honor a great man but to recognize the courage that brought needed change to our school and our state.

"We fully support the swift action of Chancellor Dan Jones and are proud of our Alumni Association for their immediate response. We pledge to honor the commitment this University and its leadership have shown to rectify this situation as quickly as possible.

"Let me be clear—Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was not given the opportunity sign a letter of support along with our fellow fraternities. Phi Kappa Tau, however, is ready and willing to step forward and lead. We ask our campus, communities, and state to stand with the Ole Miss Administration and students who are working to address this serious situation.

Our fraternity has reached out to the historically black fraternities on this campus to let them know that we support efforts to swiftly and forcefully address this matter. At this crucial moment for our campus, we stand alongside all those working to make the University of Mississippi the very best it can be."

Verbatim statement just in from the University of Mississippi:

OXFORD, Miss. – Three 19-year-old white male freshmen from Georgia were declining through their attorneys late Thursday to be questioned by university police regarding the vandalism Sunday morning of the University of Mississippi’s James Meredith statue, according to the university chief of police, Calvin Sellers.

Sellers said the University Police Department (UPD) had gathered enough evidence by late Wednesday to bring charges through the student judicial process against two of the students, and both state and federal authorities were working in close coordination to determine whether criminal charges were applicable.

Working through an advisor to the students, university police had arranged a meeting for Thursday morning, Sellers said, but the students did not appear as promised. As university police were attempting to locate the two students late Thursday, they became aware of an Oxford attorney who was representing one of the students, which then led to information that three students had retained legal counsel.

Two of the students were those being sought by university police, but all three names had been prominent in the investigation, according to Sellers. He said the attorneys declined to make their clients available for questioning without an arrest warrant.

Sellers and University of Mississippi Chief of Staff and General Counsel Lee Tyner said they believe sufficient evidence exists to bring criminal charges against the suspects and pledged to provide whatever support is needed for state and federal authorities to issue warrants and pursue legal measures to the full extent of the law. The student judicial process would call on the students to respond but can proceed without their cooperation, Tyner said. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not permit the university to release the names of the students unless criminal charges are filed.

Sellers said the $25,000 reward offered by the university’s alumni association has been instrumental in bringing quick results in the investigation, generating numerous leads. Those with additional knowledge that may be helpful to the investigation and prosecution are encouraged to contact UPD at 662-915-7234.

Contact: PR Director Danny Blanton, 662-915-1678, [email protected]

For more information about the University of Mississippi, visit http://news.olemiss.edu or sign up for our RSS feed at http://rebs.ms/umnewsrss. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter at http://rebs.ms/UMsocial.

Here's the full release from the Chamber:

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Announces Commission Appointments

With the recent passage of the Jackson Local Option Sales Tax Referendum, much needed work on Jackson’s infrastructure will be addressed. The next step to address the infrastructure issues is the creation of an Oversight Commission.

With input from the City of Jackson and other professional advisors, the Commission will establish a master plan for infrastructure projects to be accomplished, as well as ensuring all expenditures of the money collected comply with the master plan.

The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board of Directors has confirmed its four appointees to the Commission. These four individuals will be joined by six additional members selected by City of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Governor Phil Bryant, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker Phillip Gunn.

The Partnership’s representatives are:

• Dr. Beverly Hogan, President of Tougaloo College and former Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board Member • Duane A. O’Neill, President/CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership • Dr. Carolyn Meyers, President of Jackson State University and current Greater Jackson Partnership Board Member • Mr. Godwin Dafe, Small Business Owner in Jackson

“We take the responsibility of these appointments very seriously” stated GJCP Chairman Andy Taggart. “After a thorough vetting process, we feel these Jackson residents will serve the community well on this important endeavor," Taggart added.

The Human Rights Campaign sent out this statement about an hour ago. Verbatim:

Hattiesburg, Miss., Passes Resolution Recognizing LGBT Residents

Becomes the second Mississippi city in less than a month to pass resolution recognizing the role LGBT people play in thriving communities

Washington – Hattiesburg, Mississippi tonight unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the dignity and worth of all city residents – including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Hattiesburg is the second Mississippi municipality to pass such a resolution in the past month, with the city of Starkville taking similar action last month.

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

“Amid a growing number of victories for equality across the country, city leaders in Hattiesburg tonight chose to send a powerful message to their residents that all people are worthy of dignity and respect. When local leaders like Mayor Johnny DuPree and members of the city council affirm the inherent value of LGBT people, they are affecting profound change that will improve lives. While we still have work ahead of us, there’s no question that equality is marching forward and attitudes are changing in Mississippi faster than we’ve seen ever before.”

“Hattiesburg is a community that is strongest when all of our residents feel they can live openly and safely,” said Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree. “We draw our strength from our diversity – our different backgrounds, our different talents, our different passions. I’d like to thank the city council for joining me tonight in making this very important resolution a reality.”

Public opinion on equality in Mississippi is far ahead of law in the state. A poll conducted last summer found that nearly 60 percent of Mississippians under the age of 30 support marriage equality, while 64 percent of residents back workplace non-discrimination protections for LGBT employees.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Here is a verbatim statement just issued by the University of Mississippi:

At the request of Chancellor Dan Jones, the university’s Alumni Association has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two individuals involved in an early morning incident on The University of Mississippi campus.

The University Police Department (UPD) is looking for two men who were seen early Sunday morning near the James Meredith statue, which commemorates the 1962 integration of the university. One of the men was reported to have been wearing camouflage pants. The statue had been draped with a noose and an old Georgia state flag, and the men were heard shouting racial slurs.

Jones condemned the action as contrary to the beliefs and values of the university community. “These individuals chose our university’s most visible symbol of unity and educational accessibility to express their disagreement with our values. Their ideas have no place here, and our response will be an even greater commitment to promoting the values that are engraved on the statue – Courage, Knowledge, Opportunity, and Perseverance.”

Assistant to the Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs Don Cole reiterated the creed that the university stands by. “This is particularly painful because the James Meredith statue has become a gathering place for students to discuss many things, including the tenets of our creed, which calls for dignity and respect for all people.”

UPD has initiated a rigorous investigation and alerted Oxford Police. Anyone with information concerning the investigation is urged to contact UPD at 662-915-7234.

Contact: PR Director Danny Blanton, 662-915-1678, [email protected]

For more information about the University of Mississippi, visit http://news.olemiss.edu or sign up for our RSS feed at http://rebs.ms/umnewsrss. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter at http://rebs.ms/UMsocial.