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Handout / Reuters
Marco McMillian, 34, a candidate for mayor of the Mississippi Delta city of Clarksdale, is shown in an undated campaign photograph.
Marco McMillian, a black and gay man from Mississippi, announced in January that he would run for mayor of his hometown of Clarksdale. Six weeks later, the 34-year-old was found dead by police on the Mississippi River levee outside the town of 20,000 people.
Residents are still reeling, McMillian’s childhood friend and Clarksdale resident Tony Jackson told the Clarion Ledger, a local newspaper. “I heard what had happened, and I didn’t even know who they was talking about,” said Jackson, a truck driver and former city police officer. “When it came to me that it was him, that was a shock.”
Everybody knew about McMillian’s sexual preference growing up, but “it didn’t matter,” Jackson told the paper.
Another childhood friend said that McMillian’s death had been “dramatic” for people in Clarksdale, a crime-plagued town best known as a birthplace of the blues.
“It’s just terrifying to everybody that knew him personally because you ask, ‘Why?’” Sissiretta Melton, 33, told The Associated Press. “He knew this town needed him. Kids here have nothing. We don’t even have a decent movie theater. He wanted to bring those things here.”
Investigators charged Lawrence Reed, 22, with McMillian’s murder on Thursday. Reed was hospitalized on Tuesday after he got into a crash while driving McMillian’s car, police said. McMillian was not in the vehicle at the time, and police started their search for the missing man. His body was found Wednesday.
That the promising young man – a college graduate who had worked at Alabama A&M University and Jackson State University – was the latest victim of crime in the city saddened but did not surprise residents of Clarksdale.
“You know things are bad when someone like that is killed and you’re not even surprised,” Jackson said. “There’s too much of this going on here. It seems like someone’s dying every two weeks.”
McMillian cited “increased crime” in a press release announcing his candidacy, saying that he would work to make the Police Department more transparent and partner with community organizations to provide services to at-risk individuals.
“There’s a lot of people upset about it,” resident Dennis Thomas, 33, told the AP. “Why would somebody want to do something like that to somebody of that caliber? He was a highly respected person in town. He’s been in the community helping out a lot.”
Authorities have said that they do not think racial or sexual bias played a role in McMillian’s death, and that it is not being investigated as a hate crime. If elected, he would have been among the state’s most prominent openly gay public officials.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Marco McMillian, one of the 1st viable openly #LGBT candidates in Mississippi,” the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a gay rights political action committee, tweeted on Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Really, really sorry about this young man's death. He would have been such an asset to the town, and an asset to Mississippi as well, a step forward in so many directions at once.
I am even more sorry that the event of his death has not been an occasion for the black community to come together and condemn the killer, even though he is black. That they haven't is the reason for the animosity and racial comments when there is a black/white killing.
This young man's life deserves comment of his untimely passing. He is worth remembering, and mourning.
Question: did the 'white community' 'come together' and condemn any of the recent mass murderers ?
I mean, really. Something tragic happens and you have to jump to 'but the black community hasn't ....'. Disgusting.
I agree that it's sad that this man had to die. Though I'm not going to jump the shark like so many are going to claim it was because he was gay or black or both despite what the police and news report. I'm really sorry for his family and hope they manage to find some peace.
What white community? There are only about 12 white folk left in Clarksdale!
I agree screaminmini -- This apparently was a good man who was trying to tackle some major issues in a town plaqued with problems. He was trying to make a difference and was cut down in his prime before he even got a chance. RIP Mr. McMillian.
Somebody is dead. Lets find out more. Maybe somebody killed him because he was weird. It might be a jealous lover. Or it could be an accident.
Only when skin color and sexual orientation become irrelevant has a society developed. USA=a child.
hate news weekends on nbc.. so dreary
Throw a gun into the story and they would have a field day.
It's better than the daily bombardment of stories about homosexuals,which NBC does everything to please.
black and gay man from Mississippi is that what it takes to make it on MSNBC news?
The fact that he was black and gay and it was no hinderance to his being elected to the position of mayor in a Mississippi town is indeed newsworthy.
It is a shame that he was murdered at such a young age, regardless of his sexual preference, but that he was about to make political history makes it a double shame. He had a lot of good ideas to improve things in his town.
RIP.
I really hated to hear this as I am a white Mississippian. there were a lot of folks that were excited about this young man's future. The Delta region is so poor and Marco had great ideas for the community. And for all you Mississippi bashers, how was this crime any different from the senseless murders in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, or anywhere else for that matter? I don't know the facts but this probably was a car jacking gone bad but I could be wrong. The main thing is a bright young man who had so much to give is dead. I live in a small town in southwest Ms and there are plenty of gay folks here both black and white and no-one bothers them at all. In fact I have several old schoolmates that are gay and it's no big deal. I've lived all over this country and I've seen racism and homophobia everywhere. In fact some of the worst racist remarks I've heard in years were in a bar in the upper Midwest. You are right on with your comment.
It seems like they are not telling us a motive on purpose.
Car Jacking?
Spurned lover?
This story is several days old. Did the 2 know each other or live near each other?
Horrible journalism. It doesn't even say if he was shot or if any gun was in the crashed car.
Excellent point. Story read, " Gay black man running for mayor killed by this guy."
End of story.
Research never killed anyone...
Blukowski! You mispelled a word.It's spooed lover!
Exactly....that is what I was thinking. All I know is what I read. The body was found by a riverbed. So, how did he get there? There was a car accident. Two cars. Could have been that there was just a car accident and he was killed.........or stunned and stumbled out of the car, walked and died. The other guy.....his car was demolished so he took his car? Questions. There is more data that needs to be divulged. In the end, it is truly sad that this young politician died. This community lost a promising leader as well as family and friends lost someone they loved. Tragic in every sense.
RIP good fellow.
Rest forever in the arms of God.
Peace.
Again we have black leaders mute on the issue of black-on-black genocide. If they don't care, why should we?
I think you better look up "genocide", VoiceAmerica... your stupidity is showing.
genecide? Boy this thread has devolved into a shyt shootout!
Erm, Voice. You are using a word that I don't think you quite understand what it means.
Also, Voice, if black leaders did speak out on this people like you would be making dumb remarks about how they only care if one of their own is killed. if people like you ever evolve enough to get past the "us and them" mindset and begin to accept the fact that a human being is a human being regardless of the color of their skin and that as much good comes from all colors as does much evil THEN maybe this country and this world will become a better place.
Where is Al and Jesse? Oh I forgot that AL is in Florida to make sure that his boy Trayvon, the Gangsta -- gets his day in court, and Jesse is visiting his son in Prison somewhere.
A black gay dead. We call that urban renewal.
Happy trolling, John Carr... you are a real piece of work... Not
Thank you dick head for the compliment
John Carr.Here is the spanish translation for dickhead.Dick Cabaza.A nom de guerre I use to use
That's the best you can do, John? "dick head"? Please, spare me. I don't think I can take it anymore. What a joke! By the way, name-calling really doesn't reflect well on you either.
Are not all murders ,crimes of hate? Why must we put a tag on a horrific crime?Does it make the crime more dispicable? Does it raise awareness or just open the divide even wider.We,in America are preoccupied with this sillyness of always trying to find something that doesn't exist.From this mans' death to siting of Elvis.Will this crap ever end.No! It is the result of the entitlement or nanny society that some of us demand.There is always more,always a coverup and we always need big brother to ferret out the facts and truths.All we are left with ssuppositions which do nothing to satisfy our natural need for justice!
mas098. In a sense.......all murders are hate but for different reasons. Jealousy, greed, fear, pomposity. Hate crimes were made because of certain murders that were specific to discrimination. Either because of race, ethnicity, or sexual preference. In the past these murders were not pursued by police as they should have been. Thus, forces came together to pressure the lawmakers to make more awareness by the police. Also, to make a point and not be a slap on the hand [ as we know in the past ] depending on how a community liked this person made the judicial system hit folks with higher penalties due to their hatred. When this can become neutral [ which may never happen ] then the hate laws can be gone.
The killer probably sought revenge for the daily bombardment of the internet with stories on homosexuals.He just could not takecone more store from GLAAD about how some poor homosexual is being deprived of some right of entitlement that everyone else has.He is going to use the "GLAAD" defense at trial.
Dumb bigots do tend to be violent and psychotic.
Per capita income of $11,000 per year,55% black,15% Hispanic,35% of families living without a father at home and only has a population of +/- 20,000 people.The article says the city has a high crime rate.Sounds like this guy should have been running for the city limit sign rather than mayor!
The young man saw problems in his community and was working to address them and find solutions. This community has all the root causes of crime and he was able to see that. To run away from the problem only makes it worse and is dishonorable. While I may not agree with his sexual preference he had enough honor to stand and fight for his community.
His death is a loss for the entire city.
@maso actually the stats are more like 78% black, 19% white and .09% Hispanics.
Please don't try to tarnish Hispanics as the failure of this town. Hispanics prosper and live in better communities.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Clarksdale-Mississippi.html
Since the person arrested for his murder was black what would make someone consider racial bias? I guess anything is possible in Mississippi.
"Authorities have said that they do not think racial or sexual bias played a role in McMillian’s death, and that it is not being investigated as a hate crime."
Uh huh. As if it's not a hate crime.
Watch the cops botch up the case so the killer goes free.
Can you spell B-A-C-K-W-A-R-D-S ?
So if a gay, black man is killed it is automatically a hate crime? No. Hate crimes are specifically crimes that are committed because of hatred for a person's race, orientation, gender, etc. If there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the killer in this case committed the murder because of the victim's race or orientation, then how are the cops "botching" the case by not automatically assuming it is a hate crime in spite of the lack of reasoning to declare it as such?