SENATOBIA, Miss. — The NAACP in Tate County is demanding accountability in Senatobia, Mississippi, after more than one instance where they say excessive police force was used against a minor.
On Tuesday, they brought their concerns to the Board of Alderman meeting, only to be told they were not permitted to speak.
“We will not pay police officers to beat our children up,” Tate County NAACP spokesperson Patrick Alexander said.
That concern was echoed by dozens of community members in attendance.
“This community has grave concerns, concerns about the policing of our community,” Alexander said. “We have had within the last six months, a proliferation of excessive force and violence used in our community.”
Senatobia mother says two teen daughters wrongfully arrested by police Near the end of 2023, a 10-year-old boy was taken to a Senatobia jail for urinating in public.
In May, a 13 and 14-year-old girl were charged with simple assault on an officer after police say they hit an officer in the head with closed fists multiple times.
However, their mother says it was the officers who assaulted them .
“I’ve watched every video you guys are concerned about,” Demetrius Garrett, a member of the Board of Alderman said. “Most of the videos, it was disrespectful kids. Somebody being disrespectful and not listening. And that starts at home.”
Rather than the two sides reaching a common ground, more arguments ensued.
“Being disrespectful and breaking the law are two different things,” one community member said.
Garrett retorted by saying, “If you followed the law, we wouldn’t have a problem.”
Detective: Suspect was on ‘hunting mission’ in fatal downtown attack Mayor Greg Graves told the packed room that the matter would not be discussed because it wasn’t on Tuesday’s agenda.
Alexander said the NAACP followed protocol to have their concerns added to the agenda but were denied.
“I’m sure if it was happening in the white community, it would be a concern,” Alexander said. “It would be an issue. So, with it happening here in the black community, we got to respond to that.”
So, when WREG asked Alexander where the NAACP goes from here after the meeting, his answer was simple.
“To war,” Alexander said. “To war with the city.”
WREG has reached out to the Board of Alderman for comment in person and via email, but have not gotten a response.
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