News & Commentary

By Nsombi Lambright, ACLU of Mississippi Executive Director

So, my friends and I went to the Scotts Sisters Rally and March this Wednesday.  There were a lot of things going on, a sea of people, posters, and banners.  I went to represent my school, Tougaloo College, ACLU student chapter.   For most of the people in TC-ACLU, it was their first time being at a march.  Emotions were high with enthusiasm, and a little apprehensive. We all car pooled to the March’s starting point, Fairish Street Park.  On the way we were sign and laughing and saying chants we heard, wondering what was in store for us.

A life sentence for allegedly stealing $11.00.  That's the sentence that two sisters, Jamie and Gladys Scott, received in 1993.   Their case illustrates how dangerous Mississippi's criminal justice system is, especially for people of color and low-income in our state.  Mississippi's culture of conviction swallows people whole, handing out excessive sentences for minor crimes.  And regardless of how minor one thinks stealing $11.00 is, certainly life in prison is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime.

'Family values' is one of those terms whose meaning largely depends on who's using it. My family values may be different from your family values.  But if the term has any consistent meaning at all, it surely includes the idea that family members, not politicians, should decide what is and isn't in their own best interests.

July 1st , 2010 was a very interesting day in the life of the so called ‘War on Drugs’ in Mississippi. Over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine or pseudophedrine were put behind the counter, requiring a prescription to purchase.

My brother, Devon, and I trekked down to Lucedale, Mississippi a couple of days ago. It was storming as if Storm herself from X-men had orchestrated a mass attack against southeast Mississippi. To put the icing on the cake, 30 minutes from our destination, a tornado funnel cloud started forming right in front of us! A virgin to the whole tornado experience, I immediately turned around and high-tailed it in the opposite direction ….kind of like StormChasers, but instead of heading in the direction of the storm, I was running as far away as possible!