The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. June 29, 2023 Mississippi Sheriff's Deputies Fired After 2 Black Men Sue, Alleging Assault, Torture and Racism ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Several sheriff's deputies in Rankin County, Mississippi, have been fired after two Black men filed a lawsuit alleging torture and attempted sexual assault by officers. Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker say six deputies entered their home outside Jackson in January and handcuffed, kicked and waterboarded them; taunted them with racist slurs; attempted sexual assault; and repeatedly electrocuted them with Tasers. Jenkins says one deputy placed a gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger, lacerating his tongue and shattering his jaw. The men are seeking $400 million in damages from Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey and six deputies. The FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division have opened investigations. .