The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of MS and the MS State Conference NAACP are calling for state and federal officials to investigate an incident that occurred in Sumner, MS on August 20, 2009.

Our offices received several calls alleging that Tallahatchie County Prosecuting Attorney John Whitten led a heavily armed “militia” consisting of private citizens in search of a suspect accused of breaking and entering. According to initial reports, the incident allegedly involved vigilante and terrorizing activities by public officials in Tallahatchie County.

Derrick Johnson, State President of Mississippi NAACP states: “The NAACP was established to advocate for federal anti-lynching legislation to ensure that all citizens are protected from vigilante violence and racial hate crimes.”

According to reports from eyewitnesses, Whitten and several heavily armed private citizens, consuming alcohol, chased a person into a wooded area seeking their own form of justice.

“No one is above the law and everyone involved should be held accountable. We are encouraging the U.S. Attorney General’s office to investigate this incident,” stated Nsombi Lambright, Mississippi ACLU Executive Director.

The ACLU and NAACP are requesting the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Mississippi Attorney General’s office to conduct an immediate investigation into the allegations.