Mississippi’s original list of disenfranchising crimes springs from the Jim Crow era
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Kenneth Almons says he began a sentence in a Mississippi prison just two weeks after graduating from high school, and one of his felony convictions — for armed robbery — stripped away voting rights that he still has not regained decades later.
Now 51, Almons told lawmakers Wednesday that he has worked hard and remained law-abiding since his release at age 23, and he wants to be able to vote.
“It would mean I am no longer considered a nobody,” Almons said. “Because when you don’t have a voice, you’re nobody.”
Mississippi is among the 26 states that remove voting rights from people for criminal convictions, according to the .
Recommended Stories
- Black in Style: Black Hollywood eased on down to Broadway for ‘The Wiz’ revival premiere
- Mississippi legislators won’t smooth the path this year to restore voting rights after some felonies
- Cannabis is booming, but who benefits? Black women discuss the highs and lows of the industry
- 50 Cent expands his media empire with the launch of G-Unit Studios in Louisiana
- Rihanna shares music updates on what to expect from upcoming album
- Jeezy walks back custody demands amid divorce with Jeannie Mai
- Kid Cudi announces engagement: ‘This amazing woman makes me so happy’
- ‘Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard’ stars Nick Arrington and Preston Mitchum on their second season of reality TV
The post Mississippi legislators won’t smooth the path this year to restore voting rights after some felonies appeared first on TheGrio.
New Comments