Residents of Lexington, Mississippi were shocked to learn of the severe and racially disproportionate policing issues in their small town following a report released by the Justice Department. The report outlined a pattern of racially disparate policing in a town where officers were found to relentlessly violate the law. Residents, particularly those who are Black, recounted experiences of harassment and unlawful arrests by the police. One attorney representing individuals charged by the Lexington Police Department described the common charges of resisting arrest, failure to comply, and disorderly conduct as the “holy trinity.”
One such case involved a Black man who was charged with these offenses after police saw him standing outside a nightclub with a beer in his hand. The man was tased and slammed against a vehicle, leading to his arrest. Another resident, Jill Collen Jefferson, who is also an attorney and civil rights activist, was unlawfully arrested while filming a police traffic stop in 2023. Her organization, JULIAN, filed a federal lawsuit against the police department in 2022, accusing the officers of terrorizing local residents. Despite Jefferson’s efforts to bring attention to police corruption in Lexington, state officials failed to take action, prompting a federal investigation.
Lexington Police Chief Charles Henderson was unavailable for comment, but residents like Jefferson and her attorney, Mike Carr, have been vocal about the need for change in the town. Jefferson likened living in Lexington to being under martial law, emphasizing the bravery of those who have spoken out against police abuse. Carr commended Jefferson for her advocacy efforts and highlighted the importance of holding small police departments accountable for their actions. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division visited Lexington last year as part of a broader effort to address unconstitutional policing in the South.
The Justice Department’s investigation uncovered disturbing practices in Lexington, including the city court issuing bench warrants for the arrest of over 650 residents due to unpaid fines, amounting to $1.7 million. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the use of debtors’ prisons and called for an end to such practices reminiscent of Jim Crow-era policies. Former Lexington police officer Sherry Harris corroborated claims of racial bias within the department, recounting instances where Black drivers were disproportionately targeted for traffic stops and citations.
In response to the Justice Department’s findings, residents like Curdarrus Simpson and Jane McCrory shared their experiences with police encounters in Lexington. Simpson described being pulled over without justification, while McCrory, who is white, recalled being let go without citation during a minor traffic violation stop. While some residents were unaware of the systemic issues affecting Black residents, they expressed the need for state and federal officials to address the issues raised in the report. Moving forward, advocates like Jefferson are hopeful that their efforts in Lexington will contribute to broader reforms in policing practices across the country.
