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 8, 2023

Black Activists in Mississippi Sue State over Law Cracking Down on Peaceful Protest
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Mississippi, progressive groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block
a new state law that forces protesters to get approval from law
enforcement officials before holding public actions near or at
government buildings in the city of Jackson. The law requires prior
permission from Mississippi's public safety commissioner or the state
Capitol police chief for demonstrations at the state Supreme Court, the
Governor's Mansion, the state Capitol grounds and other government
sites. The suit was filed last week by the JXN Undivided Coalition,
Mississippi Poor People's Campaign, Black Voters Matter and others. The
groups say this is an attempt of the white, Republican supermajority to
strip predominantly Black communities in and around Jackson of local
autonomy and the right to free assembly. The new law is set to take
effect July 1.


.