FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Charles Irvin, 601.354.3408, cirvin@aclu-ms.org; Jennifer Riley-Collins, 601.354.3408, jriley-collins@aclu-ms.org
JACKSON, Miss – The following is a statement from American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi legal director, Charles Irvin, on the death of Choctaw activist Rexdale Henry in the Neshoba County Jail in Philadelphia, Mississippi on July 14, 2015:
“The ACLU of Mississippi would like to extend our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Rexdale Henry. Unfortunately, this case is not an isolated incident. Far too many citizens die every year in police encounters and many more are seriously injured. People of color are disproportionately affected at the hands of law enforcement and the increase in suspicious deaths has to stop.
“We support the Henry family and call for complete police transparency and a thorough independent investigation into the death of Rexdale Henry. We will continue to monitor the progress of the investigation. We encourage law enforcement to respect the First Amendment rights of citizens to peacefully protest and assemble in response to this tragedy.”
