Mississippi Center For Justice

TO ADVANCE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AND POVERTY.

THE MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE (MCJ) IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT TO PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. MCJ SERVED AS CO-COUNSEL IN DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT USED TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.MCJ IS WORKING TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO PREDATOR PAYDAY LOANS THROUGH THE NEW ROOTS CREDIT PARTNERSHIP. THE PROGRAM CONNECTS EMPLOYERS WITH BANKS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING AND LOW-INTEREST LOANS TO UNBANKED AND UNDERBANKED EMPLOYEES.MCJ JOINED A FEDERAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR ITS GROSS MISHANDLING OF THE JACKSON WATER CRISIS AND HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MAJORITY BLACK CITIES IN MS.MCJ LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THE TRUTHFUL TEACHING OF HISTORY IN SCHOOL AND COMBAT EFFORTS TO CENSOR THE PAST.MCJ IS FIGHTING TO DISMANTLE A RACIST PROVISION IN MISSISSIPPI'S 1890 CONSTITUTION THAT BANS PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN FELONY CONVICTIONS FROM VOTING. THE CONSTITUTION'S FRAMERS PURPOSEFULLY SELECTED FELONIES THAT THEY BELIEVED WERE PRIMARILY COMMITTED BY BLACK PEOPLE.MCJ FILED A LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF FIVE BLACK MISSISSIPPI FARMWORKERS THAT CLAIMS A MAJOR MS CATFISH FARM MANIPULATED THE FEDERAL H-2A VISA PROGRAM TO HIRE WHITE AFRICAN WORKERS AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE LOCAL BLACK WORKERS.MCJ FILED AN ETHICS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF THE MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS CLAIMING THAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS ILLEGALLY BLOCKED THE PRESS AND PUBLIC FROM ATTENDING CRUCIAL HOUSE MEETINGS. DURING THESE MEETINGS, HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES MAKE CRITICAL POLICY DECISIONS WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.MCJ HELPED MISSISSIPPIANS EXPUNGE THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS, THEREBY UNLOCKING NEW EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. SINCE THE START OF 2022, MCJ HAS HELPED GENERATE OVER 166 PETITIONS/ORDERS FOR EXPUNGEMENTS.MCJ PUSHED TO REFORM MISSISSIPPI'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL HOUSING LAWS. PREVIOUSLY, IN A SINGLE DAY, A TENANT COULD BOTH ATTEND AN EVICTION HEARING AND BE FORCED OUT OF HIS/HER HOME. NOW, THANKS TO MCJ'S EFFORTS, NEW LEGISLATION REQUIRES THERE TO BE SEVEN DAYS BETWEEN THE ORDER OF EVICTION AND THE REMOVAL OF THE TENANT.MCJ STOPPED STATE OFFICIALS FROM ILLEGALLY FUNNELING $10 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.