Dear Editor:
I Stanley Clark, of the Better Clarksdale Foundation, am seeking to file an injunction to delay the redistricting of the Clarksdale, Mississippi municipal voting wards.
I have filed civil case number 2019-213, in Coahoma County Chancery Court in June 2019. This was a motion for declarative judgement, which contends that racial gerrymandering was the effect of the drawing of the municipal voting wards in Clarksdale.
I feel that this motion predates the 2020 census and is of such legal efficacy that it would change how voting wards would be drawn.
Marvin Reddick also of the Better Clarksdale Foundation says that Clarksdale Mississippi operates off an antiquated special charter dating back to 1908 that allows it to have the commission form of municipal government it currently operates under. Marvin says today, Clarksdale and Vicksburg are the only two municipalities of the 299 in the state that still use a commission form of government.
Marvin says in as much as Clarksdale has attempted to adapt its commission form of government to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1965, he believes it still in affect violates this same law.
Unfortunately, Clarksdale, like many cities and townships in Mississippi is still racially divided.
Both of us feel Clarksdale would operate more efficiently under an alderman system but believe the voters of Clarksdale should decide.
Sincerely,
Stanley Clark and Marvin Reddick,
Clarksdale, Miss.
