Congressman wants probe of alleged racial remarks

Jay Gore

JACKSON – (AP) U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson has asked for a federal investigation of alleged racially charged comments attributed to a white Mississippi youth court prosecutor.

Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, asked Attorney General Eric Holder in a letter to investigate comments attributed to Jay Gore, longtime youth court prosecutor for the city of Grenada.

Grenada Police Officer Stephen Chism, who is black, said in an affidavit that before a hearing for a black teenager, he heard Gore ask a counselor: “Should we just get a rope and hang him? If we can’t hang him nor shoot him what else can we do with him?”

Gore said in a statement that he disputes the remarks attributed to him. He said his words have been mischaracterized and taken out of context after Chism overheard a private conversation on frustrations over “the lack of alternatives available to help repeat offenders” in the youth court system.

“I dispute the statement as attributed to me out of context and deny any racial or improper motivation in any action or words,” Gore said.

Gore said he heard last week from other people that the officer had been offended by his comments and went to talk to him.

“I promptly sought an audience with that officer and after discussing the matter with him, received his assurance that we were on good terms, shook hands with him and considered the matter closed as a resolved misunderstanding,” Gore said.

At some point, Chism went to a lawyer and signed the affidavit, which was given to Thompson’s office, the NAACP and others.

Thompson said in his letter to Holder that “Gore’s callous public comments display complete and total disregard for the integrity expected of his position.”

“This statement brings distress to many of my constituents who have heard about the incident because it mimics the deplorable racist attitudes of those who have oppressed and violated the civil rights of minorities across our state for several generations,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s letter said he hopes the matter will be fully investigated and “if the evidence supports that these statements were indeed made, that appropriate guidance be given to the Grenada Youth Court to include suggestions for corrective measures.”

Youth courts in Mississippi are closed to the public because they deal with juvenile offenders. It’s not clear why the juvenile in this matter was in court. Gore said he could not discuss anything related to the hearing.

“For over 32 years, I have served all the people of Grenada County with complete impartiality, fairness, honesty and integrity, as I am confident those who know me will attest. I can do no more and will continue in my best efforts to do no less,” Gore said in a statement.

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