An organization held a statewide unity conference against racial injustice at the Jackson Medical Mall Saturday.
Participants came from all over the state, and some told their stories of the loved ones they lost.
Several families spoke out about their loved ones who were killed at the hands of racial injustice.
“People in Mississippi have become comfortable with death, with lynchings, with body parts, and people being hung,” said a relative of Emmett Till Priscilla Sterling. “I think it’s time we shed a light on it, and that’s what we plan to do.”
Sterling said her family was not able to get justice, but she will continue to fight for those who can.
“I stand behind the families now that are dealing with crimes or racial injustice, these hate incidents that are happening. While the perpetrators are alive, we wanna make sure they are not going free, or prosecuted while they are alive,” said Sterling.
Saturday was spent talking about police brutality and racism in the hope these participants can help be the change surrounding the narrative of Mississippi’s history.
“We can’t say Mississippi is a beautiful state when we have an ugly racist history, so right now Mississippi is not beautiful. It’s burning,” said co-host Sherell Potts.
Organizations from across the country were able to talk to the families and help provide them with legal and political help as they move forward in their fight.
“I’m concerned that how many generations will have to continue to speak out and say no more,” said the founder of Men Against Murder Dtred Sutton. “I don’t want my great-grandchildren to be in this exact spot saying the exact same thing I’m saying right now.”
The two Mississippi Museums are holding an exhibit for the month of June honoring the life and legacy of Medgar Wiley Evers, a civil rights activist who was killed by a known white supremacist.
JACKSON, Miss. —
