Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has raised alarm over the discovery of 215 bodies in a pauper's cemetery near Hinds County Mississippi Jail. Marked with only metal rods and numbers, these graves have prompted Crump, in collaboration with Reverend Hosea Hines, to advocate for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding these deaths.
The Chicago Crusader reports that the gravesites, lacking proper identification, have left families in distress, unsure of the final resting places of their loved ones. Crump, renowned for his work in civil rights, emphasizes the need to understand the causes behind this shocking revelation.
"People all across America are scratching their heads in disbelief about what’s happening in Jackson, Mississippi, with this pauper’s graveyard," stated Crump, expressing concern over the unfolding situation. The investigation comes on the heels of previous issues, including discussions about non-existent or contaminated water in the area.
Reverend Hosea Hines, a key figure in the New Day Coalition for Equity and Black America, joins Crump in his plea for answers. Hines lamented the extended period of uncertainty for families, emphasizing that proper notification could have allowed them to pay their respects in a dignified manner.
"It really saddens my heart to know that their relatives went that long, some over a year, not knowing if their loved ones were dead or alive," Hines remarked, highlighting the emotional toll on affected families. The proximity of the pauper's graveyard behind a jailhouse adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
The investigation seeks to uncover the circumstances leading to the 215 deaths, leaving open questions about potential factors such as racism, prejudice, or bigotry. The call for transparency and justice resonates not only locally but reverberates across the nation as communities grapple with the implications of this distressing discovery in Jackson, Mississippi.
