Justice on the Line Conference Convenes at Jackson State University

In rapid response to the ongoing injustices and racial attacks being committed against the Black community, on Oct. 2nd at Jackson State University, Black Lawyers for Justice and the Mississippi Local Organizing Committee are hosting a state and national conference entitled "Justice on the Line" at Jackson State University.

"With the recent mysterious, alleged drowning death of Nolan Wells and no indictments rendered, suspicions and accusations of injustice are running high in the state of Mississippi," said attorney Malik Shabazz, leader of Black Lawyers for Justice and conference host. "Police brutality is still killing us and, unfortunately, in too many instances, the racial hatred for Blacks is so thick you can cut it with a knife." Attorney Shabazz is best known as the lead attorney for the victims of the Rankin County Mississippi Goon Squad, six department deputies who were sentenced by a federal judge in 2024 to serve a cumulative sentence of 132 years for the torture and abuse of Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker.

Conference organizers claim that, in the past year, across the nation, there have been at least ten cases of Black people found dead hanging from trees. In most of these cases, police have ruled these deaths as homicides. The response from authorities has left the relatives of these individuals and Black observers very suspicious. For many Black people, these are recurring reminders of the United States' lynching history and cover-ups that often accompanied cases.

Priscilla W. Till, a conference keynote speaker, is expected to formally announce her run for governor of the State of Mississippi in the 2027 election. Ms. Till says, "As we gather in Jackson on October 2nd, we remember the execution of my cousin Emmitt Till and the complete cover-up of his murder at that time. A legacy of racial injustice has stained Mississippi. To grow and develop, we must confront that history—not to remain imprisoned by the past, but to demand a Mississippi whose future is defined by truth, accountability, equal justice, and dignity for every person in the state."

The "Justice on the Line" conference will feature student activists and student leaders. They will be joined by supporters of Nolan Wells, who will be in attendance, and a live message will be broadcast from his parents to the live audience at Jackson State University. The family of mutilated Rasheem Carter, who in 2022 was suspected of being killed by white supremacists in Smith County, Mississippi, is expected to attend, as well as the family and supporters of 66-year-old Spencer Eckford, who died on July 21, 2026, in the booking room in Monroe, MS, after being tased by deputies. Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, killed by the Rankin County deputies in 2021 will be in attendance. Cameron met his demise at the hands of Rankin County deputies, including Goon Squad member Hunter Elward.

Activist Patrick Lumumba from the Senatobia Committee for Accountability and Transparency, will update the conference on the situation with Kohen Wiley, the one year old baby killed earlier this summer in a controversial police incident that is still under investigation by the MBI. Mr. Lumumba was also key in the firing of Senatobia, Mississippi Police chief Harold Vanderford, who was recently exposed by racist text messages prior to his ouster.

John C. Barnett who is the founder of the True Healing Under God (T.H.U.G) is representing at the conference with several families from the Gulf Area who are being victimized by the criminal justice system says "this conference is all about bringing us together to fight injustice and inequality on a common front".

Kareem Muhammad, conference co-host and leader of the Local Organizing Committee says; we must have a new paradigm in Mississippi. Out of chaos comes order and this conference will establish a new paradigm of unity through self determination and struggle against oppression.

The "Justice on the Line" conference features workshops and seminars beginning at 10 am up until 6pm. At 6pm major town hall meeting will take place and the leaders, organizers and victims will speak, interact and be clear about the strategies and paths to justice ahead. Dozens of organizations are expected to attend. For information go to nationaljusticelaw.org.