MLBC Statement on House of Representatives Holding Special Session at the Old Capitol Museum

The decision by Governor Tate Reeves to convene a special session at the Old Mississippi State Capitol is deeply troubling. It is a painful and deliberate reminder of one of the darkest periods in Mississippi history.

That building stands as a symbol of the systematic destruction of Black political power in this state. It was there that legislators voted to secede from the Union and, under the 1890 Mississippi Constitution, that laws were crafted with the clear intent to strip Black Mississippians of the right to vote, silence Black voices, and erase Black representation from the political process. The architects of that Constitution openly declared their intentions to disenfranchise Black people and cement white political control.

Let us be clear: symbolism matters.

For Speaker White to hold the Governor's special session in that very building in 2026 — at a moment when Black voting representation and political power are once again under attack — is a slap in the face to the 1.2 million Black people of Mississippi. This decision sends the wrong message to every Black family whose ancestors bled, marched, suffered, and died for the right to vote.

Our people endured literacy tests, poll taxes, lynchings, intimidation, and violence so future generations could have a voice in democracy. Men and women were beaten, murdered, and terrorized simply for seeking the ballot box. We will not sit quietly while efforts are made to turn the clock backward. We cannot ignore the history of the Old Capitol, and we also cannot allow history to repeat itself through modern-day decisions.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus stands united and fully prepared to fight against any attempt to dilute, dismantle, or destroy Black voting strength and Black political representation in Mississippi. We refuse to allow the ghosts of 1890 to dictate the future of 2026. We are watching. We are organized. And we are prepared to stand in the gap for the people of Mississippi.

As Scripture reminds us in Amos 5:24: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” The fight for freedom, justice, and equality continues.