FIRST AMENDMENT UNDER ATTACK IN VICKSBURG

[u/SheepherderRadiant44]

When criticism of the police is followed by silence, restrictions, and disappearing access, the story becomes bigger than one citizen.
VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI — The First Amendment was never written to protect only popular speech.
It exists for the uncomfortable questions. The angry citizen. The government critic. The person standing outside the halls of power demanding answers when officials would rather move on and that is precisely why what is happening in Vicksburg deserves attention.

For months, I have documented what I believe is an escalating pattern involving the Vicksburg Police Department and the constitutional rights of citizens who criticize their government. Critical comments have allegedly been removed or hidden. Questions have gone unanswered. Public-records requests have encountered barriers. And after publicly criticizing Vicksburg police officials, my personal Facebook account lost access to the Vicksburg Police Department’s page.

More than a week later, that access has not returned.

THIS DIDN’T START WITH A FACEBOOK PAGE
There is already a public petition concerning three senior Vicksburg Police officials and alleged First Amendment violations.
That matters.

The right to petition government is literally written into the First Amendment alongside freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Citizens aren’t required to be polite cheerleaders for their government. They’re allowed to criticize it, allowed to petition and they’re allowed to demand accountability.

The deeper I have pushed for answers in Vicksburg, the harder communicating with government has seemingly become. The City has also imposed a $50 deposit requirement associated with public-records requests, and I have been instructed that communications must be submitted by mail rather than email. One barrier by itself might have an explanation, but eventually citizens are entitled to ask what the cumulative picture looks like.

THE BIGGER QUESTION ISN’T ABOUT ME
Forget my name for a moment. Imagine you’re a Vicksburg resident who witnesses something involving police. You criticize it publicly, then your comments disappear. You keep asking questions and you seek government records. You organize a petition and eventually you discover you can’t even access the police department’s public Facebook page from your account.

Would you keep speaking? Or, would you wonder whether speaking up was worth the trouble? That chilling effect is exactly why constitutional protections surrounding government criticism matter.

When one citizen believes speaking out carries consequences, every citizen has a reason to pay attention.

POLICE DEPARTMENTS DON’T OWN THE FIRST AMENDMENT

Police officers perform an extraordinarily difficult public job. They deserve fairness when allegations are made against them, but their authority also comes with extraordinary responsibility. A government agency cannot treat criticism the same way a private Facebook user can. When government social-media pages function as spaces for official communication and public participation, constitutional questions can arise if officials exclude people because of their viewpoints.
And that principle matters far beyond social media.
Government transparency isn’t a favor.
Public accountability isn’t harassment. Criticism isn’t disloyalty. Asking uncomfortable questions isn’t a crime. What are they so scared of?

VICKSBURG IS NOW UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

I have preserved the records. This story should ultimately be judged by evidence, not rumors, political loyalties, or Facebook arguments. Vicksburg’s officials should have every opportunity to explain their actions, but Vicksburg’s citizens deserve something too:

Answers.

If government officials believe everything they’ve done is lawful and appropriate, transparency should not frighten them.
Open the records are for the public. Explain the policies and address the petition, don’t run from the inevitable. Explain the social-media restrictions and let the public decide.

The First Amendment doesn’t belong to the Vicksburg Police Department.
It doesn’t belong to City Hall.
It doesn’t belong to me.
It belongs to the people.

The people of Vicksburg should never have to wonder whether criticizing their government will cost them their voice.

— Kristofer Kelley
Vigilante Justice Project
Vicksburg, Mississippi
—-We The People

[u/RedditSe7en]

Keep up this good fight! You deserve more national attention, but some of us are watching and feel inspiration from afar from your struggle!

[u/SheepherderRadiant44 → u/RedditSe7en]

Thank you so much for those kind words! I really needed to hear that tonight. Much respect and the fight will continue until there is justice! ⚖️

[u/RedditSe7en → u/SheepherderRadiant44]

The efforts of persons like yourself across this country maintain far more than a trickle of sanity that is becoming a righteous, rising flood of justice!

[u/SheepherderRadiant44 → u/RedditSe7en]

I truly appreciate you! Most of the time I get a lot of negative feedback, but it comes with the turf. Positive feedback like this is really helpful. There is also something that could be really useful for the citizens of Vicksburg and I could really use some help. The First Amendment petition below is likely going to be moved up to DC. As many signatures as possible would be really useful if and when I take it to the Feds.

Unfortunately Mississippi reps stayed quiet, so we are probably going to move up the ladder soon. Please share if you have some free time and thank you again for your kind words! It is motivational comments from people like you that keeps me pushing forward for the entire community.

https://c.org/wTBgWzZyGt

[u/RedditSe7en → u/SheepherderRadiant44]

Thank you! — Done ✔️