Capital City – The Mississippi Link

Lumumba sworn in Monday as Jackson mayor

July 2, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

Chokwe Lumumba was sworn in Monday as the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi’s capital and the largest city in the state.

Lumumba is an attorney who served the past four years on the Jackson City Council. A civil rights activist, he was active in a black nationalist group decades ago, but ran as a mainstream candidate who would represent all city voters.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that the first true test for Lumumba will come quickly – a Sept. 15 budget deadline, which he’ll face with a new City Council. […]

Chokwe Lumumba, ex-black nationalist, wins Jackson mayor’s race

June 6, 2013 Kermit 4

A Mississippi attorney and one-time civil rights activist who was involved in a black nationalist group decades ago has been elected mayor of Jackson, the state capital.

The Clarion-Ledger reported late Tuesday that Jackson City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba was elected mayor, receiving about 85 percent of the vote against three independent candidates.

He will succeed Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., who finished third in this year’s Democratic primary. […]

Dems pick Lumumba in Jackson mayor runoff

May 22, 2013 Kermit 0

Jackson City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba (SHOW-kway Lu-MOOM-bah) has defeated businessman Jonathan Lee in the Democratic primary runoff for Jackson mayor.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that unofficial results show the 65-year-old Lumumba winning 55% of the vote Tuesday.

The Democratic nominee is expected to become mayor. No Republican is running, though independent candidates Francis Smith, Jr., Richard Williams, Jr., and Cornelius Griggs are on the June 4 general election ballot. The new term begins July 1. […]

Miss. mayoral candidate: Radical or mainstream?

May 20, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

An attorney who was active in a black nationalist group decades ago and still refers to a client as a “former Black Panther heroine” is running for mayor of Mississippi’s capital city.

Can Chokwe Lumumba persuade voters that he’s a mainstream politician concerned about a diverse swath of people?

That’s a big question he faces businessman Jonathan Lee in Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff in Jackson. […]

Man dies of multiple gunshot wounds

October 3, 2012 Kermit 0

WLBT is reporting that authorities are investigating their third homicide in the Capital City this weekend.

The most recent murder occurred Sunday afternoon in west Jackson where a 34-year-old man was shot several times and subsequently died of his injuries. […]

JSU security guard shot to death

September 24, 2012 Kermit 0

A Jackson State University security guard was found dead in a city street early Saturday morning.

WLBT-TV reports 27-year-old Joseph Welch was shot five times, according to officials. Jackson police say Welch failed to show up for work at 10 p.m. Friday night. […]