Mississippi Center For Justice

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

IMPACT LITIGATION PROJECT: - MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE (MCJ) JOINED CO-COUNSEL, THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND PAUL WEISS AND O'MELVENY IN FILING AND ARGUING THE BRIEF OF RESPONDENTS IN DOBBS V. JWHO IN THE SUPREME COURT. - MCJ SCORED A WIN FOR THE MARSHALL PROJECT IN THIS MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, ACQUIRING IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FROM THE MS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THAT HAD BEEN WITHHELD OR HEAVILY REDACTED. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PROJECT'S ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATE PRISON CORRUPTION IN MISSISSIPPI. - MCJ FORMALLY JOINED AS CO-COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE BROUGHT BY MISSISSIPPI CONGRESSMAN BENNIE THOMPSON AND TEN OF HIS HOUSE COLLEAGUES AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, RUDY GUILIANI, THE OATH KEEPERS, AND THE PROUD BOYS, FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE JANUARY 6, 2021 INVASION OF THE CAPITOL. - MCJ AND HOGAN LOVELLS CONTINUED THEIR REPRESENTATION OF CURTIS FLOWERS AND FILED A FEDERAL COURT ACTION AGAINST DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOUG EVANS AND THREE INVESTIGATORS FOR PURSUING A BOGUS MURDER CASE AGAINST CURTIS FLOWERS THAT VIOLATED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND REQUIRED HIM TO ENDURE 6 TRIALS AND SPEND 23 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT. - MCJ WON OUR CASE DEFENDING PROTESTER DENNIS HARRIS AGAINST MISDEMEANOR CHARGES IN THE TOWN OF PETAL, MISSISSIPPI RELATING TO THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST PETAL'S MAYOR WHO CLAIMED THAT GEORGE FLOYD OBVIOUSLY COULD BREATHE SINCE HE WAS ABLE TO SAY HE COULDN'T BREATHE AND ALSO CLAIMED THAT GEORGE FLOYD LIKELY DIED OR AN OVERDOSE OR A HEART ATTACK. HE WAS UNJUSTLY CONVICTED IN PETAL MUNICIPAL COURT. HE WAS TRIED DE NOVO IN FORREST COUNTY COURT WHERE HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY. - THE FULL EN BANC FIFTH CIRCUIT HEARD MCJ'S APPEAL CHALLENGING THE FELON DISFRANCHISEMENT PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL SECTION 241 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890. - MCJ FILED A FEDERAL COURT COMPLAINT AGAINST PITTS FARMS ASSERTING VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL SEASONAL WORKER PROTECTIONS AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW PLUS FRAUD AND BREACH OF CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF EIGHT BLACK MISSISSIPPI DELTA AGRICULTURAL WORKERS WHO WERE PAID LESS THAN, AND IN SOME CASES DISPLACED BY, WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN WORKERS WHO WERE BROUGHT IN TO DO THE SAME WORK AT THE SAME FARM. - MCJ REACHED A SETTLEMENT ON BEHALF OF TWO FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL WORKERS EMPLOYED BY A MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS WHICH PAID THEM LESS THAN WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW GOVERNING H-2A VISAS. - AS PART OF MCJ'S EFFORT TO FIGHT AGAINST EXCESSIVE CHARGING OF JUVENILES IN ADULT COURT, WE REPRESENTED A 16 YEAR OLD, AND ARRANGED REPRESENTATION FOR HIS 14 YEAR OLD BROTHER. THE CASE WAS PROPERLY REFERRED TO YOUTH COURT. - MCJ REPRESENTED AN ORGANIZATION OF MISSISSIPPI YOUTH WHO, FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020, WERE BARRED FROM HAVING A MARCH AND DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF RACIAL JUSTICE BECAUSE OF THE CITY OF HATTIESBURG'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL PROTEST PERMITTING SCHEME. FOLLOWING A DEMAND LETTER IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CONTINUOUSLY WITH THE CITY TO COMPLETELY OVERHAUL THEIR PERMITTING ORDINANCE.IMMIGRATION: - MCJ SECURED A FIFTH CIRCUIT REMAND ON BEHALF OF A MALIAN ASYLUM SEEKER SEEKING PROTECTION FROM PERSECUTION ON ACCOUNT OF HIS HIV DIAGNOSIS AND IMPUTED GAY IDENTITY. - HOSTED A SPANISH-LANGUAGE WEBINAR WITH PANELISTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER, THE JACKSON FREE CLINIC, AND THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF JACKSON TO DISPEL MYTHS AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATIONS, AND ORGANIZED A VACCINATION DRIVE GEARED TOWARD SPANISH-SPEAKING MISSISSIPPIANS AT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH ALONG WITH THE MS STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF JACKSON, AND JACKSON FREE CLINIC. - MCJ SCREENED OVER 100 DREAMERS AND ENROLLED NEARLY 50 PEOPLE IN A FREE DACA CLINIC WITH OUR PRO BONO PARTNERS AKIN GUMP. WHILE ALSO IDENTIFYING SCORES OF FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR DACA DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE PROGRAM (2012-17) BEFORE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TERMINATED INITIAL APPLICATIONS. - MCJ ASSISTED THREE MISSISSIPPI DACA RECIPIENTS IN OBTAINING EMERGENCY ADVANCE PAROLE SO THEY COULD ATTEND THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL IN MEXICO AND RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN ADDITION, HE IS PREPARING AN ADVANCE PAROLE APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF A GUATEMALAN DREAMER WHO NEEDS TO TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA TO CONDUCT DISSERTATION RESEARCH. - MCJ FILED 4 U VISA APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. - MCJ SECURED TERMINATION OF THREE DEPORTATION CASES AGAINST CLIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS. - MCJ FILED GREEN CARD APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF 8 SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE CLIENTS WHO HAD SUFFERED ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR ABANDONMENT BY A PARENT.CONSUMER PROTECTION: - THE CONSUMER TEAM ENGAGED IN OUTREACH EVENTS FOCUSED ON EXPUNGEMENTS, FORECLOSURE PREVENTION AND JUSTICE COURT MATTERS ACROSS THE STATE. - MCJ THROUGH FUNDING PROVIDED BY SJI, CREATED THE JUSTICE COURT ACCESS PROGRAM ("JCAP") TO BUILD INTERNET RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACCESS CRUCIAL INFORMATION AHEAD OF THEIR HEARING. WE LAUNCHED WWW.MSJUSTICECOURTHELP.COM, A WEBSITE WITH A LIVE CHAT BOT HELPING SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS IN JUSTICE COURT TO PREPARE AND NAVIGATE COURT IN REAL TIME, INCLUDING LAUNCHING A PROGRAM OF JUSTICE COURT NAVIGATORS TO HELP SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS IN COURT. - MCJ BEGAN OBSERVATIONS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS IN SEVERAL COUNTIES BOTH REMOTELY AND IN PERSON, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WHERE POSSIBLE. - MCJ'S NEW ROOTS CREDIT PARTNERSHIP RESULTED IN ITS FIRST LOAN TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF JACKSON, AND CONTINUED TO WORK ON NEGOTIATING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. - MCJ CONTINUED OUR RADIO PROGRAM ON WMPR 90.1 FM ON MONDAY MORNINGS FROM 7:00 AM 7:30 AM DISCUSSING ISSUES OF DEBT, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING EVERYDAY MISSISSIPPIANS. - MCJ CLOSED OVER 150 EXPUNGEMENT CASES INCLUDING OVER 52 PETITIONS AND ORDERS DRAFTED FOR CLIENTS.

HEALTHCARE: - MCJ ADVOCATED FOR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE INCLUDING CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE EXPANDING MEDICAID AND EXTENDING POSTPARTUM BENEFITS TO WOMEN. - WORKED ON ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING MEDICAID - MCJ STRENGTHENED OUR HIV STIGMA AND DECRIMINALIZATION CONDUCTING SEVERAL STIGMA WORKSHOPS, INCLUDING FOR THE FIVE HORIZONS CLINIC STAFF IN STARKVILLE, MS SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR WORK TO AN UNTAPPED AREA OF THE STATE. - THE HEALTH LAW DIVISION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JACKSON HINDS COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER LAUNCHED THE ELEVATING THE MEDICAID ENROLLMENT EXPERIENCE (EMEE) VOICES SURVEY, A PROJECT THAT SEEKS TO SUPPORT STATE ADVOCATES INCORPORATING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES IN THEIR MEDICAID WORK. - IN OUR CONTINUED EFFORT FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION MCJ GATHERED "DEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN" LETTERS FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO FELL IN THE COVERAGE GAP. MCJ CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE SOUTHERNERS FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION COALITION FOCUSING ON THE BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION AND HOW IT CAN HELP CLOSE THE COVERAGE GAP FOR NON-MEDICAID EXPANSION STATES. THROUGH COALITION, MCJ CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS, SIGN-ON OPPORTUNITIES AND SHARING UPDATES WITH MISSISSIPPI ADVOCATES. - MCJ'S MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP, THE ONLY ONE IN THE STATE, CO-HOSTED A THREE PART VIRTUAL SERIES WITH JACKSON-HINDS COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER ON ENDING THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN MISSISSIPPI. THE MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP ALSO EXPANDED THE RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR RYAN WHITE PART B PARTNERS.HOUSING: - MCJ EXPANDED THE FAIR HOUSING OUTREACH WORK TO 6 NEW COUNTIES AND BROADENED THE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS HOUSING ISSUES AFFECTING LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. - MCJ HOUSING CAMPAIGN CONCLUDED A THREE-YEAR FAIR HOUSING ACT ENFORCEMENT PROJECT. THE GRANT SERVED THIRTY COUNTIES IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI; INVESTIGATED OVER ONE HUNDRED ALLEGATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION; FILED THIRTY ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS TO HUD RESULTING IN TEN RESOLUTIONS FAVORABLE TO MCJ CLIENTS. THE PROJECT ALSO CONDUCTED TESTING FOR DISCRIMINATION IN RENTAL, SALES, LENDING AND ACCESS AND PROVIDED TARGETED FAIR HOUSING PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, LAW STUDENTS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. - MCJ CONTINUED TESTING AND PARTICIPATED IN TRAININGS CONCENTRATING ON DISABILITY ACCESS AND DESIGN, SALES AND LGBT DISCRIMINATION. - MCJ CONTINUED RUNNING THE STATE'S ONLY EVICTION HOTLINE HANDLING HUNDREDS OF CALLS. WITH THE CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRING IN JUNE, MCJ WORKED ON ENSURING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT AND THE CARES ACT WAS USED TO KEEP MISSISSIPPIANS IN THEIR HOMES. - MCJ CREATED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CASEY FAMILY FOUNDATION TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND LEGAL INTERVENTIONS ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES FACING INVESTIGATION BY MDCPS. THE PROJECT ADDS THE SERVICES OF A SOCIAL WORKER AND A LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS HOUSING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PUBLIC BENEFITS ISSUES FOR HOUSEHOLDS. - MCJ HAS BEGUN A POLICY INITIATIVE TO REPLACE THE EVICTION LAWS IN MISSISSIPPI WHICH ARE AMONG THE FASTEST AND MOST EGREGIOUS IN THE COUNTRY.

HEIRS PROPERTY: - MCJ LAUNCHED THE MOBILE BASIN PROJECT WHICH COVERS 49 OR MORE COUNTIES IN MISSISSIPPI LOCATED ALONG THE MOBILE BASIN CATCHMENT AREA. THIS PROJECT ALLOWED MCJ TO INCREASE ITS CAPACITY TO ASSIST MANY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN PROTECTING FAMILY LAND OWNERSHIP AND LEGACY. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES TO ESTABLISH CURRENT REAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, THIS PROJECT ALSO INVOLVES OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES AROUND MISSISSIPPI TO EXPLAIN WHAT HEIRS' PROPERTY IS AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO PROTECT IT.

OTHER WORK: - MCJ JOINED THE FIGHT TO ENSURE EQUITABLE EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO BROADBAND ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. INCLUDING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF THE BROADBAND COMMISSION PLANS FOR OUTREACH AND OFFICE SET UP IN SOUTHERN BORDER STATES AL, LA AND AR. TRACKING LEGISLATION AND CREATING MAPS OF AREAS THAT EXPANDED COVERAGE THROUGH PUBLIC UTILITIES SERVICE USING CARES ACT FUNDING. - IN RESPONSE TO THE EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES ARISING FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC, MCJ IS COMPILING A REPORT THAT WILL BE USED TO HELP LAW AND POLICYMAKERS, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES FOR LEARNING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY, TEACHER TRAINING, AND PARENTAL SUPPORTS TO MAKE VIRTUAL LEARNING A VIABLE OPTION IN EVERY COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL TO EDUCATIONAL EQUITY IN MISSISSIPPI. MCJ HAS BEEN A LEADING FORCE TO HELP ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION TO REDUCE EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES ALONG RACE, CLASS, AND GEOGRAPHIC LINES SO AS TO LEVERAGE EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY FOR MORE CITIZENS. - MCJ ALSO WORKED WITH OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS AND EDUCATORS TO PROTECT ACCURATE HISTORICAL EDUCATION IN MISSISSIPPI AND COMBAT THE ANTI-CRT RHETORIC AND LEGISLATION TAKING PLACE IN THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT THE SACRED SPACE AND TRUST EDUCATORS MUST HAVE IN CULTIVATING THE MINDS OF STUDENTS HERE IN MISSISSIPPI IS PROTECTED.