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This statement may be attributed to MLBC Chairman Rep. Kabir Karriem: Reports indicate that Gov. Tate Reeves is canceling the May 20 special session. Let me be clear: canceling the session does not cancel the fight. People are beginning to pay attention. Questions are being asked. Communities are preparing to respond. The session is now canceled, but the issue has not gone away. Black representation and Black voting power still deserve public attention, and Mississippi leaders still owe the people transparency. We know our history. We know what happens when decisions about voting power are made without the people in the room. Black political power must never be treated like something to move around, weaken, or bargain away behind closed doors. If there are plans to redraw congressional lines in 2027, the people deserve to know that now. We should not have to wait until the last minute or to find out after decisions have already been made. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus will keep watching. We will keep asking questions, speaking up, and standing with the people of this state to protect Black representation, Black voting power, and fair political voice. To everyone who was ready to show up, post up, and speak up: stay ready. The date may change. The fight has not. Mississippi remains on the front line. Black political power is still on the line. Protecting Black voting power does not only happen when maps are drawn. It happens when people stay registered, stay informed, vote in every election, attend community meetings, and ask hard questions before decisions are made. We are asking every eligible voter to register by the October 5, 2026 deadline and vote on November 3, 2026 during the General Election. Stay connected to the community conversations happening across this state

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.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus expresses profound disappointment and deep concern following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. This ruling represents a troubling step backward in the ongoing struggle to protect the voting rights of Black Americans and to ensure fair and equitable representation in our democracy. At its core, this decision weakens critical protections that have long served as a safeguard against racial discrimination in the redistricting process. For decades, the Voting Rights Act has stood as a pillar of accountability—ensuring that communities of color, particularly Black communities across the South, are not diluted, divided, or silenced through manipulated district lines. Today’s ruling threatens that foundation. For the state of Mississippi, the implications are both immediate and profound. Mississippi has a long and painful history of voter suppression and racially discriminatory practices. While we have made progress, this decision opens the door for renewed efforts to redraw political maps in ways that could diminish the collective voice of Black voters. It creates legal uncertainty at a time when Mississippi is already under scrutiny for maps that may fail to fully comply with the Voting Rights Act. Let us be clear: representation is not a privilege—it is a right. And when the power of Black voters is weakened through redistricting decisions, it is not just lines on a map that are changed—it is access to resources, education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and justice itself that hangs in the balance. This decision could have far-reaching consequences beyond Mississippi. Across the nation, states may now feel emboldened to challenge or weaken majority-Black districts, undermining decades of progress secured through sacrifice, advocacy, and, in many cases, bloodshed. The result could be fewer Black voices in legislative bodies, fewer champions for our communities, and a democracy that does not fully reflect the people it serves. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus will not stand idle. We are actively reviewing the full implications of this ruling and preparing to respond with strategic, legal, and legislative action. We will continue to advocate for fair maps, equitable representation, and the full enforcement of voting rights protections at every level of government. We will also intensify our engagement with communities across Mississippi to ensure that our people are informed, mobilized, and prepared for what lies ahead. As Scripture reminds us in Amos 5:24: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” While today’s decision may attempt to slow that stream, it will not stop the movement for justice. We call on leaders, advocates, and citizens across this state and nation to remain vigilant. This moment demands unity, courage, and unwavering commitment. The fight for representation is the fight for our future—and we intend to meet it head-on.

Welcome to The Mississippi Black Caucus Website. Be engaged. Be involved. Be empowered. Donate to the Caucus Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for African Americans in the Magnolia State CAUCUS NEWS To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. WELCOME FROM OUR CHAIR It is my pleasure to welcome to the official website of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus. Here you will find important information about our legislative policy, stay informed about our legislative priorities, and receive legislative updates. We champion issues that impact all Mississippians, with particular emphasis on African Americans, those in rural communities and those who are disadvantaged. We advance equity, justice, and opportunity by advocating for economic empowerment, criminal justice reform, job creation, educational advancement, voting rights, business development, improvements in infrastructure, and access to affordable healthcare. Please click the 2026 Policy Agenda graphic below to view our policy proposals. On behalf of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, thank you so much for your support as we continue this critical work. May we remain steadfast and united in our mission, and may God bless each of you and the great state of Mississippi. Sincerely, Kabir Karriem Representative Kabir Karriem House District 41 Chairman, Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus ABOUT THE CAUCUS The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is made up of 58 members in the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives Learn More MAKE A CONTRIBUTION Partner with the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus to ensure we can continue our advocacy work for African Americans across the State of Mississippi Donate Now MLBC Kicked Off Town Hall Series in Gulfport. Check out this Media Coverage. Join Our NEWSLETTER Sign Up Mailing Address Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus New Capitol PO Box 1018 Jackson, MS 39201 Email mlbc1976@gmail.com

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Find out everything about who we are, what we stand for and the various activities that we do in our community. Donate to the Caucus ABOUT MLBC The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus (hereinafter “MLBC”) is dedicated to the advancement and, when necessary, the defeat of legislation impacting Mississippi’s African American population. Consisting of members of the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives, MLBC endeavors to be the strong and collective voice of Mississippi’s 1.3 million African Americans. As a legislative caucus, MLBC recognizes it is most influential and effective when its positions and stances on certain issues are clearly defined and consistently applied. Having considered the current conditions of African Americans in Mississippi and Mississippians in general, MLBC hereby states its positions and intended course of action on matters of health care, education, criminal justice, matters of finance and economic justice and election reform. Join Our NEWSLETTER Sign Up Mailing Address Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus New Capitol PO Box 1018 Jackson, MS 39201 Email info@msblackcaucus.org