The Mississippi NAACP is crying foul after Capitol police set up safety checkpoints near Jackson State University. “Setting up roadblocks near precincts is a very suspicious form of voter intimidation,” said NAACP Jackson President Nsombi Lambright.State NAACP leaders said they were surprised to see Capitol police officers set up a roadblock and stopped drivers near JSU one day before Mississippi’s general election.“It was very alarming to us. It does raise a lot of questions about what the purpose of this checkpoint today was,” Lambright said. “They were checking both license plates and licenses off individuals passing by right next to the largest voting precinct in the state of Mississippi, which is Jackson State University,” said state NAACP Executive Director Charles Taylor.Monday morning, close to a dozen Capitol police SUVs with blue lights flashing set up on University Boulevard at Lynch Street as students came onto and left the JSU campus.Standing outside the governor’s mansion, Taylor said he believes the heavy police presence near an HBCU on the eve of a major election is voter intimidation. The JSU Student Center is a voting precinct.Lambright said JSU campus police told her they were not aware of a Capitol police checkpoint. However, according to a spokesperson for Secretary of State Michael Watson, JSU requested enhanced patrols after the October shooting death of senior Jaylen Burns. “The (JSU) Department of Public Safety has many agency partners that help us keep the campus community safe. While we can appreciate these efforts, we did not request the specific implementation of a checkpoint (Monday),” said Chief Herman Horton, with the JSU Department of Public Safety. “As a result, we will continue to encourage collaboration and dialogue to ensure our actions are aligned and maintain the public’s trust and the integrity of our public safety department.”Bailey Martin, with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, responded in a statement on behalf of Capitol Police.”Any statements or allegations asserting that Capitol Police is attempting to suppress voters is false and without merit,” Martin said. “On the night of the recent homicide that occurred on the Jackson State University campus, JSU Police Chief Herman Horton requested Capitol Police to have an increased presence near the campus. In response to their request, Capitol Police has increased their law enforcement efforts near the campus to help preserve the safety of the students and deter criminal activity.”Martin said JSU is within the Capitol Complex Improvement District.”Capitol Police will continue to work to ensure the safety and protection of the students and faculty on and near the campus,” Martin said.
The Mississippi NAACP is crying foul after Capitol police set up safety checkpoints near Jackson State University.
“Setting up roadblocks near precincts is a very suspicious form of voter intimidation,” said NAACP Jackson President Nsombi Lambright.
State NAACP leaders said they were surprised to see Capitol police officers set up a roadblock and stopped drivers near JSU one day before Mississippi’s general election.
“It was very alarming to us. It does raise a lot of questions about what the purpose of this checkpoint today was,” Lambright said.
“They were checking both license plates and licenses off individuals passing by right next to the largest voting precinct in the state of Mississippi, which is Jackson State University,” said state NAACP Executive Director Charles Taylor.
Monday morning, close to a dozen Capitol police SUVs with blue lights flashing set up on University Boulevard at Lynch Street as students came onto and left the JSU campus.
Standing outside the governor’s mansion, Taylor said he believes the heavy police presence near an HBCU on the eve of a major election is voter intimidation. The JSU Student Center is a voting precinct.
Lambright said JSU campus police told her they were not aware of a Capitol police checkpoint. However, according to a spokesperson for Secretary of State Michael Watson, JSU requested enhanced patrols after the October shooting death of senior Jaylen Burns.
“The (JSU) Department of Public Safety has many agency partners that help us keep the campus community safe. While we can appreciate these efforts, we did not request the specific implementation of a checkpoint (Monday),” said Chief Herman Horton, with the JSU Department of Public Safety. “As a result, we will continue to encourage collaboration and dialogue to ensure our actions are aligned and maintain the public’s trust and the integrity of our public safety department.”
Bailey Martin, with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, responded in a statement on behalf of Capitol Police.
“Any statements or allegations asserting that Capitol Police is attempting to suppress voters is false and without merit,” Martin said. “On the night of the recent homicide that occurred on the Jackson State University campus, JSU Police Chief Herman Horton requested Capitol Police to have an increased presence near the campus. In response to their request, Capitol Police has increased their law enforcement efforts near the campus to help preserve the safety of the students and deter criminal activity.”
Martin said JSU is within the Capitol Complex Improvement District.
“Capitol Police will continue to work to ensure the safety and protection of the students and faculty on and near the campus,” Martin said.
