Jackson Leads Protest in Mississippi
K O K O M O, Miss., July 8 -- — The Rev. Jesse Jackson led about 1,000demonstrators today in a march to the tree where a blackteen-ager died last month in a hanging that medical examiners ruleda suicide.
The protesters, many carrying signs questioning whether17-year-old Raynard Johnson was lynched, gathered outside his homein Kokomo where he was found hanging from a pecan tree June 16.
Two autopsies determined that the teen hung himself with a belt,but Johnson’s family and Jackson believe he may have been killedfor associating with white women in the community.
“We will not rest until those who committed this murder arebrought to justice,” Jackson said Saturday. “We reject thesuicide theory.”
Dozens of law enforcement officers lined the streets of thefour-mile march route from the high school Johnson had attended tohis home, but other than heat-related illnesses there were noproblems.
Allegations Questioned
Some residents of the community of 1,000 about 90 miles south ofJackson, Miss., have questioned whether the case is beingoverblown. A new report released Friday by the state pathologistreinforced earlier determinations that the death was suicide.
“They’re trying to stir up trouble,” said Terry Powell ofnearby Morgantown.
Jackson has set up a $10,000reward and hot line to encourage people to come forward withinformation, and he has asked Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and the U.S.Justice Department to launch an investigation
“I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a black personliving here in constant fear of being lynched,” said Dan Lutz, 22,a Tulane University student who drove to the rally from New Orleanswith about 200 people. “We’re going to rally here for justiceagainst the systematic violence against black people.”
Some neighbors have said Johnson was a happy teen who would nothave committed suicide.
“There’s a lot of prejudice and hatred in Kokomo,” saidresident Candace Brister, whose son Courtney attended the sameschool as Johnson. “It’s time something is done about it.”
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