THE MLBC RUNDOWN - Sept. 10, 2026 GREENVILLE IS UP NEXT Here is what is happening, what you need to know and where you can get involved. This week, we are preparing to take our work to Greenville, bringing elected and community leaders together for voter education and making sure Mississippi communities know when redistricting decisions are being discussed. The calendar is full. The opportunities to participate are clear. Let’s get to it. GREENVILLE 2026 Civic Action Meets Delta Culture During Blues Week Next week, we will convene in Greenville for the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus 2026 Annual Legislative Retreat. From September 16 through 20, MLBC members will prepare for the legislative work ahead, engage with residents and local leaders, and participate in Greenville’s Blues Week activities. The Mississippi Delta has shaped music, culture and history around the world. Its people must also have a voice in the decisions shaping Mississippi’s future. Public engagement begins with the Protect Our Voice Greenville Town Hall. GREENVILLE TOWN HALL Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Public arrival: 5:30 p.m. Program begins: 6:30 p.m. Elks Lodge 1818 East Alexander Street, Greenville, MS 38703 Special Guest: District Attorney Scott Colom Join us for a direct conversation about voting, education, redistricting and the issues affecting Black communities across Mississippi. Bring your questions. Bring your concerns. Bring someone with you. Additional Blues Week activities will continue through Saturday, September 19, including the 49th Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival. VIEW GREENVILLE’S EVENTS CALENDAR OPERATION TURNOUT PART 2 Turning Information Into Action Faith and community leaders came together this week for Operation Turnout Part 2. The virtual session focused on redistricting updates, voter education and preparing trusted community voices to share accurate information with the people they serve. Now the information has to move beyond the Zoom room. This week’s action: ask five people in your family, church, organization or neighborhood to check their voter registration before National Voter Registration Day on September 15. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION OR GET VOTER INFORMATION More Operation Turnout resources and opportunities will be shared soon. Did you miss the meeting? Catch the replay now: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/mYUFnmUjPIP7xEDR9h93RG94oAZx8y4NIMPwoIFs2fYG9yhUzojVwTPZXRFF0ww.CRoEGpKw5bymDrI2 Passcode: A8h&=K@7 Civics Sunday: Put Faith Into Action Sunday, September 20, 2026 The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is calling on pastors, ministry leaders and faith communities across the state to participate in Operation Turnout: Civics Sunday. Participating churches can choose a Civic Engagement Ambassador, set up a voter information table, help eligible voters register or verify their status, share nonpartisan voter information and encourage members to make a voting plan. The goal is to reach at least 20 voters at each participating church. The Civics Sunday Plan of Action includes step-by-step instructions, sample pulpit and bulletin language, an engagement script, a materials checklist and a participation report. Download the plan, choose your church’s lead and prepare to activate on September 20. DOWNLOAD THE CIVICS SUNDAY PLAN OF ACTION BELOW RESOURCE LINKS: state registration-status portal and mail-in voter-registration application. Questions or requests for materials can be sent to mslbc1976@gmail.com. Protect Our Voice. Mobilize the Vote. Transform the Block. Town Halls later this month GREENVILLE Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. Elks Lodge | 1818 E. Alexander Street, Greenville, MS 38703 Special Guest: Attorney Scott Colom LAUREL Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. L.T. Ellis Community Center | 610 Munson Street, Laurel, Mississippi Lunch will be served. GET VOTE READY National Vote Registration Day Is September 15 Do you know whether your voter registration information is current? Take a few minutes to check. If you have moved, changed your name or recently became eligible to vote, find out what you need to do now. Then check on your people. Ask five relatives, friends, church members or neighbors to verify their registration before National Voter Registration Day. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION OR GET VOTER INFORMATION VISIT THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY WEBSITE Being ready before Election Day removes one more barrier between you and the ballot box. REDISTRICTING WATCH Meridian, Your Hearing Is Sept. 10 Redistricting affects which communities vote together and who represents them. The public hearing process gives Mississippi residents an opportunity to speak before new maps are finalized. Meridian is the next stop on the schedule. MERIDIAN Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. Meridian Community College McCain Theater 910 Highway 19 North Meridian, MS 39307 Arrive early to sign in and secure your seat. A clear bag policy may be enforced. HATTIESBURG The next redistricting hearing after Meridian will be: Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. University of Southern Mississippi Mannoni Performing Arts Center 3057 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 The September 17 hearing remains scheduled. It is separate from the canceled September 10 Hattiesburg town hall. Want help preparing to participate? Email mslbc1976@gmail.com. Cannot attend in person? Watch the livestream through legislature.ms.gov. Find a hearing near you. Public redistricting hearings are scheduled across Mississippi through October 1. Attend in person or watch online. SEE ALL HEARING DATES AND LOCATIONS WATCH THE HEARINGS LIVE WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT Know. Share. Show Up. Organize. Know: Check the redistricting hearing schedule and your voter registration. Share: Send the Greenville Town Hall information to someone in the Delta. Show up: Attend a hearing or town hall and bring your questions. Organize: Ask five people in your circle to confirm their voter registration before September 15. The work moves when our communities have accurate information and clear ways to participate. Decisions are being shaped now. Our communities must be part of shaping them. Our Voice. Our Power. Our Future.

THE MLBC RUNDOWN - AUGUST 26, 2026 Faith, voice and action are moving across Mississippi Here is what happened, why it matters and what you can do next. This week, MLBC’s work continues to move from the Capitol into churches, neighborhoods and community rooms. Across Mississippi, the Caucus is sharing clear information, listening to local concerns and demanding answers about decisions affecting Black families. FAITH IN ACTION Churches Are Helping Protect Our Voice MLBC recently met with clergy and church leaders for Operation Turnout, a statewide faith and civic engagement effort. The work is rooted in a truth our communities know well: churches have always helped Black people learn, organize and move. Operation Turnout equips congregations to protect the voice, mobilize the vote and turn faith into action in their communities. Faith leaders were challenged to speak boldly, educate their congregations and help people take action. That can mean sharing trusted information, helping eligible voters prepare, bringing neighbors together and choosing one clear civic action to complete within the next 30 days. One Church. One Action. Thirty Days. · Choose one action your church can complete. · Name one person to lead it. · Set a date and get started. We are the only salt in town. The message draws from the biblical call to be the salt of the earth. Faith has a public role. That work continues before, during and after Election Day. To learn more about Operation Turnout, contact mslbc1976@gmail.com or sign up to the Protect Our Voice Network here. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is connecting people with clear information, listening to local concerns and calling for answers on decisions that affect Black families across our state. MLBC ON THE MOVE - OKOLONA AND UPCOMING TOWN HALLS Okolona Showed Up. Louisville, You're Next. A strong crowd came out for the first Protect Our Voice Legislative Town Hall in Okolona. Community members connected with legislators, heard updates and made space for local voices to be heard. That is what public service should look like: elected leaders meeting people face to face, in the communities they serve. Now the town hall tour is headed to Louisville. Louisville Town Hall Details Monday, August 31, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. Still Valley MB Church Annex 521 Armstrong Street, Louisville, MS 39339 Come hear legislative updates, ask questions and speak directly with members of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus. Food will be served. Bring your questions. Bring your concerns. Bring someone with you. Save the Next Dates HATTIESBURG Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. C.E. Roy Community Center | 300 East 5th Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Light refreshments will be served. LAUREL Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. L.T. Ellis Community Center | 610 Munson Street, Laurel, Mississippi Lunch will be served. ACCOUNTABILITY - KOHEN WILEY Kohen Wiley's Family Is Still Waiting for Answers One-year-old Kohen Wiley was fatally shot on June 14 during a law-enforcement encounter in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating his death. MLBC has called on Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell to make sure Kohen's family receives direct, timely and ongoing updates about the investigation. Some information may need to stay private while the investigation continues. Silence is still not acceptable. READ AND SHARE THE OPEN LETTER MLBC is calling for direct, timely and ongoing communication with Kohen Wiley's family about the investigation into his death. POLICY WATCH - COLLEGE FUNDING Mississippi's public HBCUs serve students and communities across the state. MLBC is asking for a full review before any new funding formula moves forward. College Funding Plan Paused. The Questions Remain. State leaders and the Institutions of Higher Learning Board are considering changes to how Mississippi's public universities receive state money. During its August 20 meeting, the IHL Board took no action on the proposed performance-based funding formula. That means the current formula remains in place for now. The MLBC is still calling for an independent PEER review before any new formula moves forward. The Caucus wants the full picture on the table, including each institution’s funding, student needs, facilities, endowments and history of state investment. The request also includes Mississippi’s public community colleges. The goal is clear: Mississippi should understand who could gain, who could lose and how students and communities could be affected before changing how public colleges and universities are funded. A formula that treats every school the same can still hurt schools that have been underfunded for years. MLBC wants clear facts about what the plan could mean for Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University. READ THE MLBC REQUEST REDISTRICTING WATCH Redistricting Hearings Have Begun. Our Power Is on the Line. Mississippi lawmakers have started holding public hearings on whether to redraw the state’s legislative, congressional and judicial voting districts before the next census. The first hearing was held August 18 in Tupelo. The next hearing is Thursday, August 27, at 6:00 p.m. at Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Ranger Center, 1210 Church Road in Southaven. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais does not require Mississippi to redraw its maps. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act remains law, but the ruling sharply limited how it can be used to challenge maps that weaken Black voting power. MLBC is calling for an open and accountable process, including public hearings across the state, livestreamed meetings, proposed maps and data released for public review, and meaningful community input before decisions are made. Voting maps determine which communities vote together, who represents them and whose voices carry power. Show up, follow the maps and make your voice part of the public record. READ THE MLBC REDISTRICTING UPDATE Find a hearing near you. Public redistricting hearings are scheduled across Mississippi through October 1. Attend in person or watch online. SEE ALL HEARING DATES AND LOCATIONS WATCH THE HEARINGS LIVE Know. Share. Show Up. Organize. Know: Read the redistricting update and learn what changing the maps could mean for your community. Share: Send this Rundown and the Louisville flyer to your church, neighborhood group, family chat or organization. Show up: Attend the Louisville town hall Monday and bring someone with you. Organize: Ask your church to choose one Operation Turnout action for the next 30 days. Decisions are being shaped now. Our communities must be part of shaping them. Our Voice. Our Power. Our Future.

THE MLBC RUNDOWN - Sept. 3, 2026 When Communities Speak, Things Move Here is what happened, why it matters and what you can do next. This week brought a clear reminder: when people organize, speak out and keep the pressure on, public officials must respond. From Senatobia, where city leaders fired the police chief, to Louisville, where residents filled the room to speak directly with lawmakers, Mississippi communities are making their voices heard. The work is also crossing state lines as Black lawmakers build stronger partnerships around the issues affecting the people they represent. ACCOUNTABILITY IN SENATOBIA Senatobia Aldermen Fire Police Chief The Senatobia Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to fire Police Chief Harold Vanderford. Vanderford attempted to resign after investigative reporting revealed that he repeatedly used racist slurs in private text messages. The Board rejected his resignation and terminated him instead. The people of Senatobia refused to let this be pushed aside. Community members kept asking questions, demanding accountability and making it clear that this conduct could not be accepted from someone entrusted to lead a police department. The firing matters. But it does not answer every question. The investigation into the police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley remains open. Kohen’s family is still owed facts, direct communication and a full accounting of what happened on June 14. Accountability cannot stop with one personnel decision. Read the latest reporting:https://mississippitoday.org/2026/09/01/senatobia-police-chief-fired-after-racist-texts/ TOWN HALL RECAP Louisville Showed Up - and the Story Traveled Residents came together Monday for the Protect Our Voice Legislative Town Hall in Louisville. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus partnered with the Winston County Branch of the NAACP to discuss voting, possible changes to Mississippi’s congressional districts, new state gun laws and other issues affecting local communities. People did not simply sit and listen. They asked questions, raised concerns and spoke directly with elected leaders. WCBI covered the town hall, helping carry that community conversation beyond the meeting room. That matters. When residents show up and local media tell the story, more people understand what is at stake—and more people know how to get involved. Watch and read the WCBI coverage: https://www.wcbi.com/ms-black-caucus-encourages-voter-participation-ahead-of-election/ Later this month GREENVILLE Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. Elks Lodge | 1818 E. Alexander Street, Greenville, MS 38703 Special Guest: Attorney Scott Colom LAUREL Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. L.T. Ellis Community Center | 610 Munson Street, Laurel, Mississippi Lunch will be served. BUILDING POWER ACROSS STATE LINES Mississippi and Tennessee Lawmakers Strengthen Their Partnership The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus recently joined the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators in Nashville for important conversations about education, healthcare, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform and voting rights. Black communities across the South face many of the same challenges. Our responsibility does not end when a meeting is over. Black communities across the South face many of the same challenges. The work now is to stay connected, establish shared priorities and turn those priorities into measurable action. This collaboration gives Mississippi and Tennessee lawmakers an opportunity to strengthen their strategies around education, healthcare, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform and voting rights. Thank you to our Tennessee colleagues and every MLBC member who participated. Our families are counting on us to continue this work with purpose and urgency. Photo credit: Mayor Erik D. Simmons RETREAT AND TOWN HALL The Work Moves Forward in Greenville MLBC members will convene in Greenville September 16–20 for the 2026 Annual Legislative Retreat. The retreat will include a public Protect Our Voice Town Hall: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. Elks Lodge | 1818 E. Alexander Street | Greenville, MS 38703 Special Guest: Attorney Scott Colom REDISTRICTING WATCH Natchez: Your Voice Belongs in the Room The next public redistricting hearing will be held: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 6:00 p.m. Alcorn State University MBA Building Auditorium, Natchez Campus 15 Campus Drive Natchez, MS 39120 Arrive early to sign in and secure your seat. A clear bag policy may be enforced. Want help preparing to participate? Email mslbc1976@gmail.com. Cannot attend in person? Watch the livestream through legislature.ms.gov. Find a hearing near you. Public redistricting hearings are scheduled across Mississippi through October 1. Attend in person or watch online. SEE ALL HEARING DATES AND LOCATIONS WATCH THE HEARINGS LIVE OPERATION TURNOUT One Church. One Action. Thirty Days. Operation Turnout Part 2 will bring faith leaders and community partners together for virtual organizing session focused on voter engagement and coordinated civic action. Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. | Virtual meeting via Zoom Every church can take one clear action. Identify a civic engagement captain who will share voter registration information, hearing dates and time-sensitive community action alerts with the congregation for the next 30 days. REGISTER FOR OPERATION TURNOUT PART 2 WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT Know. Share. Show Up. Organize. Know: Learn what proposed map changes could mean for your community. Share: Send this Rundown and the upcoming event information to your church, neighborhood group, family chat or organization. Show up: Attend the Natchez redistricting hearing on September 8, join Operation Turnout Part 2 on September 9 and attend the Greenville town hall on September 16. Organize: Ask your church to appoint one civic engagement captain for the next 30 days. Decisions are being shaped now. Our communities must be part of shaping them. Our Voice. Our Power. Our Future.

It was an honor for the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus to join the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators in Nashville for important conversations about education, healthcare, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, and voting rights. Our communities face many of the same challenges, and our responsibility does not end when the meeting is over. We must stay connected, establish clear policy goals and timelines, and hold ourselves accountable for the work ahead. The people we represent deserve to see progress and hear directly from us about the results. This partnership is an opportunity to turn our shared priorities into action: stronger schools, better jobs, access to quality healthcare, safer communities, and protection of our voting rights. Thank you to our Tennessee colleagues and every MLBC member who participated. Let us continue working together with purpose and urgency. Our families are counting on us! As always, thank you for your service and leadership. 📸 Photo Credit: Mayor Erik D. Simmons & Rep. Zakiya Summers

As Legislative Leadership and the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees considers potential changes to how our public institutions of higher learning are funded, we believe it is important that policymakers have a complete, independent, and data-driven picture of the resources currently available to each institution and the potential impact of any new funding formula. Our request to the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure asks PEER to examine all major funding sources—including General Funds, Special Funds, Education Enhancement Funds, federal funds, federal funds not requiring Legislative appropriation, and endowment resources—as well as historical state investment, capital and infrastructure needs, and the potential economic impact of the proposed model. We are also requesting that the analysis include Mississippi’s public community colleges and provide comparable information regarding state investment, funding sources, per-student funding, capital needs, and disparities among institutions. Research shows that performance-based funding (PBF) formulas have a disparate impact on HBCUs. Mississippi's Historically Black Colleges and Universities have historically been underfunded. For Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Mississippi Valley State University, PBF could potentially create a downward cycle because it would not account for history, mission, student need, systemic disinvestment, and differences in institutional capacity within those institutions. A supposedly "neutral" or "one size fits all" formula could transfer more resources to universities that already possess the greatest advantages. Our goal is to ensure that any significant change to higher education funding is informed by a comprehensive assessment of where our institutions currently stand and how proposed changes could affect students, institutions, and communities across Mississippi.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is calling on state officials to establish a clear point of contact and provide Kohen Wiley’s family with direct, timely and ongoing updates about the investigation into his death. On June 14, one-year-old Kohen Wiley was fatally shot during a law-enforcement encounter in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Members of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus recently met with Kohen’s family and their representatives. We listened as they shared their grief, unanswered questions and concerns about the lack of meaningful communication regarding the investigation. In an open letter, MLBC Chairman Kabir Karriem called on Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell to ensure that a clear point of contact is established immediately and that Kohen’s family receives direct, timely and ongoing updates. The Caucus recognizes that protecting the integrity of an active investigation may prevent officials from releasing certain information. However, that does not justify silence. State officials can explain what information may be shared, what must remain confidential and what the family should expect next. Kohen Wiley's family deserves answers, respect and the assurance that the institutions investigating his death are accountable to the people they serve. This family has waited long enough.

Mississippi is once again facing important decisions about how our political districts—and ultimately our political power—may be shaped. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, state leaders have created separate House and Senate Select Committees as well as a Joint Redistricting and Reapportionment Committee to examine possible mid-decade redistricting. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus wants Mississippians to understand one important point: the Callais decision does not require Mississippi to redraw its legislative or congressional districts right now. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act remains in effect. It continues to prohibit discriminatory voting maps that dilute minority voting strength and prevent Black voters from having a fair opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Mississippi is approximately 38% Black, yet only one of the state's four congressional districts provides Black voters an opportunity to elect a candidate of choice. Black representation also remains disproportionately low in the Mississippi Senate and on the Mississippi Supreme Court. Going backward should not be an option. If Mississippi Redistricts, Mississippi Must Be Heard Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Kabir Karriem, House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, and Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons have called on legislative leadership to ensure that any consideration of mid-decade redistricting meets the highest standards of transparency and public participation. See our letter below. We are calling for: Joint House and Senate meetings so the redistricting process operates under consistent rules and procedures. Community hearings across Mississippi that are publicly announced, accessible, and livestreamed. Multiple open committee hearings where lawmakers and the public can hear from experts and community members. Meaningful public input before decisions are made—not after maps have already been drawn. Public release of proposed maps, data, findings, and committee reports with enough time for Mississippians to understand and respond to them. Transparency about who draws the maps, what data are used, how decisions are made, and why particular maps are accepted or rejected. Redistricting determines much more than where a line appears on a map. Those lines determine which communities vote together, who has the opportunity to represent them, and who holds political power. That political power influences decisions about education, healthcare, infrastructure, economic development, public safety, voting rights, and the allocation of public resources. This Is Your Government. Stay Engaged. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus will continue to monitor the Legislature's redistricting activities and keep communities informed. We will also host town halls and organize convenings with community, faith, civil rights, and other partners to educate Mississippians about redistricting, representation, and how they can participate in the process. Here's what you can do: Show up at public hearings. Pay attention to proposed maps. Speak up and speak out. Talk about redistricting in your churches, neighborhoods, organizations, workplaces, and families. Check your voter registration status and make sure you are an active voter. And when Election Day comes, VOTE. Mississippians deserve a redistricting process that is deliberate, transparent, grounded in the law, and accountable to the people. Our voices. Our power. Our future. Stay engaged. Stay ready. VOTE!

By Rep. Kabir Karriem | Chairman, Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus Governor Tate Reeves called the Mississippi Legislature into the 2026 Extraordinary Session with less than 24 hours' notice to consider the Mississippi Youth Court Reform Act of 2026, one of the most significant overhauls of Mississippi’s juvenile justice system in decades. There is no question that our youth court system deserves thoughtful reform. Our children, families, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement officers, educators, and communities all deserve a system that is fair, efficient, accountable, and focused on rehabilitation whenever possible. However, legislation of this magnitude should never be rushed through the legislative process. A complete restructuring of Mississippi’s youth court system deserved careful review, meaningful public input, and genuine bipartisan collaboration. Instead, lawmakers were given less than 24 hours’ notice before convening in Special Session to consider sweeping changes that will affect children and families across our state. Unfortunately, what could have been a defining bipartisan moment became another missed opportunity. Good legislation is strengthened, not weakened, when members of both parties have the opportunity to ask questions, offer amendments, and work together to find common ground. For these reasons, I joined the majority of our Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus colleagues in voting “NO” on every piece of legislation relating to this youth court overhaul. Our vote was not a vote against reform or against Mississippi’s children. It was a vote against both a flawed legislative process and provisions of the legislation that we believe require greater scrutiny. Among our concerns were provisions expanding public access to youth court records and increasing the public disclosure of juvenile proceedings, changes that could follow young people long after they have paid for their mistakes. We were also troubled by the significant investment in juvenile detention facilities without an equal commitment to prevention, diversion, mental health services, education, mentoring, and community-based intervention programs that can keep children out of the justice system in the first place. Additionally, we remain concerned about the financial burden this legislation places on Mississippi’s counties. Many counties will now be expected to shoulder substantial new costs to operate and maintain an expanded youth court system. Reform should not become an unfunded mandate that strains already limited local resources. As these reforms move forward, we must also remain vigilant about equity. Black children have historically been disproportionately represented in Mississippi’s juvenile justice system. We must ensure that every child—regardless of race, income, or ZIP code—has equal access to diversion programs, rehabilitation, mental health care, educational opportunities, and restorative justice before incarceration becomes the default response. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus believes accountability and public safety must always be balanced with fairness, compassion, and the unwavering belief that young people are capable of change. We support policies that protect our communities while investing in prevention, intervention, and opportunities that help children become productive citizens rather than lifelong participants in the justice system. I challenge every parent, pastor, educator, mentor, community leader, judge, prosecutor, and elected official to stay informed and remain engaged. Reforming our juvenile justice system is too important to become a partisan exercise. It requires all of us working together with one goal: giving Mississippi’s children the opportunity to succeed. Moving forward, I remain committed to working with my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, to strengthen Mississippi’s juvenile justice system through an open, transparent, and collaborative process. We can protect public safety while also protecting the future of our children. The true measure of a society is not how many children it detains, but how many children it gives the opportunity to succeed. Our children are not our greatest problem, they are our greatest promise.

By Rep. Kabir Karriem | Chairman, Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus There are moments when a state has the opportunity to tell the world who it really is. Recently, I visited The Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. Both tell the story of our state. Both are truthful. Yet each tells that story through a different lens. As I walked through those exhibits, I realized the most important story of Mississippi isn’t confined to museum walls. It is being written every day by the choices we make, the values we uphold, and the way we respond when our people cry out for answers. History is not something we visit only in museums. It lives in our laws, our institutions, our memories, and our willingness or unwillingness to confront difficult truths. Every generation is given a choice: to repeat history, to ignore history, or to learn from it. I believe Mississippi is at its best when it chooses to learn. As a legislator, I have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and serve the people of Mississippi. As Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, I have a responsibility to speak when communities are hurting. And as a father who has buried a child, I understand that no parent should ever be left searching for answers after suffering the unimaginable. That is why the death of Nolan Xavier Wells matters—not only to his family, but to all of us. This moment is bigger than one case. It is about what kind of Mississippi we choose to be. I have listened carefully to the public conversation surrounding Nolan’s death. I heard comments from Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, former State Senator Chris McDaniels, and my friend and colleague, Representative Jimmy Fondren, whom I respect greatly. While each expressed their own views, I came away with what I believe was a common theme in their comments: that Mississippi has changed, that we should not continue to define ourselves by our past, and that outside voices are coming into our state to stir racial division. I recognize that reasonable people can disagree, and I am paraphrasing my understanding of the overall message—not quoting anyone directly. My response is simple: if Mississippi has indeed changed, then we should never fear transparency. We should welcome it, because transparency is how public trust is earned and progress is demonstrated. I agree that Mississippi has changed in many ways. I have dedicated my life to serving its people, and I have witnessed meaningful progress firsthand. But acknowledging progress should never require us to ignore unanswered questions. In fact, true progress demands greater transparency, greater accountability, and greater public trust. This is not about reliving the past. It is about learning from it. The Wells family deserves answers. Mississippi deserves answers. America deserves answers. What happened to Nolan Xavier Wells? According to publicly reported accounts, Nolan reportedly left with three friends headed toward Horn Island, yet the only things that returned were his keys and his phone without Nolan. That heartbreaking reality leaves a grieving family, a community, and a nation searching for answers. What happened during those missing moments? What evidence has been gathered? What conclusions can legitimately be supported by the facts? The question is larger than one case. It is whether Mississippi has finally become one Mississippi, where every family receives the same urgency, the same transparency, and the same pursuit of justice, or whether too many still experience the tale of two Mississippis: One Mississippi where confidence comes easily. Another where confidence must be earned. One Mississippi where questions are answered quickly. Another where families wait, wonder, and grieve without knowing why. When legitimate questions go unanswered, speculation fills the void. Transparency is the only antidote to distrust especially in a state with Mississippi’s dubious past. The worst thing government can do is ask grieving families to simply trust the process without demonstrating that every available resource has been used to uncover the truth. Transparency does not weaken law enforcement. It strengthens public confidence. When investigations are open, thorough, and credible, they protect both the innocent and those who faithfully wear the badge. For many Mississippians, particularly Black Mississippians, history has taught us that unanswered questions often become lifelong wounds. That history cannot simply be dismissed because it makes us uncomfortable. It should compel us to ensure that every investigation is thorough, impartial, and worthy of the public’s trust. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” If today’s Mississippi is truly different from yesterday’s Mississippi, then this is our opportunity to prove it, not with slogans or speeches, but with a transparent investigation that earns the confidence of the people it serves. A just Mississippi understands that supporting law enforcement and seeking accountability go hand in hand. A united Mississippi does not silence difficult conversations. It meets them with truth. The families of Mississippi deserve more than our condolences. They deserve our courage, the courage to seek the truth wherever it leads. As Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, I join those calling for complete transparency and accountability. We owe Nolan Xavier Wells’ family nothing less than the truth. Whatever that truth may be, it must be uncovered openly and honestly so that justice is not only done, but seen to be done. There is a Mississippi that wants to move forward, confront hard truths, and earn the trust of all its people. And there is a Mississippi that believes asking difficult questions somehow diminishes our progress. I choose the first Mississippi. Because loving Mississippi does not mean defending everything it does. Loving Mississippi means believing it can be better than it was yesterday. That is why I ask these questions, not to divide our state, but to help unite it around a simple principle: that every family deserves the truth, every investigation deserves integrity, and every life deserves equal justice under the law. Justice should never depend on race, geography, influence, or political affiliation. I love Mississippi. I have chosen to dedicate my life to serving this state because I believe in its people and in its promise. I believe we can continue moving beyond the divisions that have too often defined our history. But progress is not measured by what we say about ourselves. It is measured by what we do when justice is tested. The measure of Mississippi will never be whether tragedy occurs. The measure of Mississippi will always be how we respond when it does. If our state has truly changed, then transparency should never be feared. It should be embraced. Years from now, I hope we are remembered not for the questions we were asked, but for the answers we had the courage to seek. I hope we are remembered as the generation that chose truth over comfort, transparency over suspicion, and justice over expediency. That is how trust is restored. That is how healing begins. That is how history is changed. May we respond with honesty, courage, and justice that unites us. And, may history say that when Mississippi was called to choose between protecting its reputation and pursuing the truth, it chose the truth. Only then can we truly become one Mississippi.

A slate of new Mississippi laws took effect July 1, impacting areas ranging from criminal justice and education to health care and retirement benefits. Rep. Kabir Karriem, chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, recently highlighted several of the new laws in a public information flyer, encouraging residents to stay informed about how policy changes may affect their daily lives. Here’s a closer look at several key measures and what they mean in practice: Criminal Justice and Public Safety House Bill 525 establishes mandatory minimum sentencing for individuals convicted of sexual battery. Supporters say the law ensures consistent punishment for serious offenses, while critics of mandatory minimums have historically argued they can limit judicial discretion in sentencing. Senate Bill 2710 requires that minors accused of certain gun-related crimes be charged as adults. The law is intended to address violent crime involving youth, though it raises ongoing debates about how the justice system handles juvenile offenders. Senate Bill 2369 allows the state to intercept casino or gaming winnings from individuals who owe past-due child support. The measure expands enforcement tools already used for tax refunds and other income sources. Voting and Elections Senate Bill 2588, known as the “Shield Act,” requires local election officials to verify the citizenship status of individuals registering to vote. State leaders say the law is aimed at strengthening election integrity, while opponents have raised concerns about potential barriers to voter registration and administrative challenges. Family and Custody Law House Bill 1662 changes how courts approach child custody cases. The law establishes joint custody as the starting point in divorce proceedings, meaning judges begin with the presumption of a 50-50 custody arrangement. Courts can still adjust custody based on the best interest of the child, but the default starting point shifts how cases are evaluated. Education and Workforce House Bill 1935 provides a $2,000 pay raise for Mississippi teachers. Additional $2,000 increases are included for special education teachers, along with raises for assistant teachers, school psychologists and occupational therapists. Lawmakers say the raises are part of ongoing efforts to address teacher shortages and improve retention. Public Employees Retirement House Bill 4073 modifies the Public Employees’ Retirement System for new hires under Tier 5. The law reduces the years of service required for full retirement benefits from 35 years to 30 years, a change supporters say makes public employment more competitive. Health Care Coverage House Bill 565, known as “Jill’s Law,” requires certain health insurance plans — including Medicaid and state-regulated private plans — to cover biomarker testing when supported by clinical evidence. Biomarker testing can help guide treatment decisions for conditions such as cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes. Public Awareness Push Karriem said the goal of sharing the information is to help residents better understand how state laws affect everyday life. “An informed public is essential to a strong democracy,” he said in the flyer. Many of the new laws reflect broader policy trends seen across the country, including tougher penalties for certain crimes, expanded health care coverage requirements and changes to education funding. Residents seeking more details can review the full text of each bill through the Mississippi Legislature’s website or consult legal professionals for guidance on how specific laws may apply to them.

By Rep. Kabir Karriem, Chairman, Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus There are moments in life that transcend politics. There are moments when titles no longer matter. In those moments, we are simply mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, neighbors and human beings. The death of one-year-old Kohen Kartier Wiley is one of those moments. His life mattered. As a father who lost my own daughter, Aeiriol Nicole Karriem, in a tragic automobile accident when she was only two years old, I know something about the unbearable silence that follows the loss of a child. My daughter’s death occurred under entirely different circumstances, but grief has a language all its own. It is a pain that changes you forever. That is why I felt compelled to drive nearly three hours to Senatobia, MS to attend Kohen’s visitation at West Gilmore Street Church of Christ on June 26. I did not go as Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus alone. I went as a father. I went because no parent should have to bury a child. When the funeral ends, the flowers will eventually fade. Family members will slowly return to work. News cameras will pack up and move on to the next story. Television trucks will disappear. But the pain remains. Baby Kohen has been received by the ancestors. His family, however, awakens each morning to an empty crib, an empty room, and questions that have yet to be answered. That is why this moment cannot be allowed to wither away from Mississippi’s conscience. This is not simply about one family. It is about whether every Mississippian can have confidence that when a child dies during an encounter involving law enforcement, the investigation will be thorough, impartial, and transparent. Truth cannot exist without transparency. Transparency is not the enemy of law enforcement. Transparency protects both the public and the officers who faithfully serve with integrity. It builds trust where distrust exists. It allows facts, not speculation, to prevail. The people of Senatobia deserve to know exactly what happened. Kohen’s family deserves to know exactly what happened. Mississippi deserves to know exactly what happened. I join the growing number of clergy, civil rights organizations, elected officials, and community leaders calling upon Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell and Attorney General Lynn Fitch to ensure that this investigation is conducted with complete transparency. The public deserves timely, factual information about the investigation, and the family deserves clear answers as they seek justice and healing. This is not about rushing to judgment, rather refusing to rush to silence. Our state has witnessed too many families searching for answers after tragic encounters involving government authority. Regardless of where the evidence ultimately leads, confidence in the outcome depends upon confidence in the process. That process must be open, credible, and worthy of the public’s trust. As Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, I remain committed to standing with families who seek accountability, fairness, and justice under the law. We will continue to advocate for processes that value every life and strengthen public confidence in our institutions. May God comfort Kohen’s family. May He strengthen the people of Senatobia. And may He grant our state both the courage to seek the truth and the wisdom to pursue justice wherever that truth leads. For in the end, justice delayed deepens grief. Truth, honestly pursued, is the first step toward healing for justice cannot exist without truth.

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus welcomes today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold Mississippi’s five-day absentee ballot receipt window and reject an effort that would have disenfranchised lawfully registered voters across our state. The challenge to Mississippi’s absentee voting law was part of a broader national effort initiated by the Republican Party to restrict access to the ballot box. Had the challenge succeeded, countless Mississippians who complied with every legal requirement could have seen their votes discarded simply because of postal delays outside of their control. The Caucus has consistently maintained that democracy is strongest when every eligible voter has a meaningful opportunity to participate. Voters should not be penalized because they are serving in the military, living in rural communities, elderly, disabled, or otherwise dependent upon absentee voting. While today’s ruling preserves an important protection for voters, we remain deeply concerned about the continuing attacks on voting rights nationwide and in Mississippi. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus will continue to advocate for policies that expand access to the ballot, protect against discrimination, and ensure that every vote is counted and every voice is heard.