Lawmakers from majority white districts are proposing legislation that would significantly impact the majority Black population of Jackson, Mississippi, without consulting their representatives. It is HB 1020, a plan that increases policing, strips voting and political power away from the majority of Black citizens in Jackson, and diverts tax dollars away from communities in need.
While some council members see the bill as a step in the right direction, as they eliminate the proposal for a separate judicial system, many view the bill as racist and say that it would strip power from the Black population, which makes up the majority of Jackson, without consulting their representatives.
The proposed court system would be overseen by unelected and unaccountable officials appointed by the state. Critics argue the legislation is a direct threat to the freedom of the capitol city and a parallel to Jim Crow-era political schemes.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
