Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus begins series of town halls on the Coast

By Austin Johnson, WLOX

See Full Story Here: https://www.wlox.com/2025/08/20/mississippi-legislative-black-caucus-begins-series-town-halls-coast/

Published: Aug. 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM CDT

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - Democratic elected leaders across Mississippi hosted a town hall on the Coast Tuesday, as an attempt to energize the base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is made up of 55 members. Their main focus is on quality-of-life issues that affect people of color.

Caucus Chairman Kabir Karriem said the town hall also gave people on the Coast a chance to express concerns and ideas that they will take to Jackson and fight for.

“We’re unapologetically pushing those issues that are important to Black people in the state of Mississippi,” Karriem said. “We are their voice, and this is important for us to engage in the community as we prepare to get ready for the 2026 session.”

Karriem also represents Mississippi House District 41.

“This is what it’s all about— community. People talking to one another and not at each other,“ Karriem said. ”We’re trying to find out what’s on the minds and hearts of folks across Mississippi as we go back and we put legislation that will directly affect them, and try to defeat legislation that is bad for them."

The panel of state leaders spoke on gerrymandering, voter restoration, and public school funding.

Gulfport Resident Alanderia Whitlock was one of nearly 100 people in attendance.

“We’ve always wanted a seat at the table, and once we have our seat at the table, we want to be heard,” Whitlock said.

Whitlock said she is ready to make a difference in her community, and this town hall was another step toward progress.

“My community is frowned upon, looked down on, but you have to be a part of the solution you want to see. I just want change. I want better for my community,” Whitlock said. “It’s so easy for millennials to just leave and go to other places, but while I am living here, if there’s anything I can do to voice my opinion for other younger people to do something and change it, even if it doesn’t work, I’m here to do it.”

The town hall is one of many to come across the state, with hopes to strengthen engagement between lawmakers and the communities they serve.

Karriem says the other townhalls are still in the process of being planned.