Name: Protesters call for ouster of Petal mayor over George Floyd death comments
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Protesters call for ouster of Petal mayor over George Floyd death comments

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Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThis story will be updated.PETAL — Protesters gathered Friday at Petal City Hall to demand the resignation of Mayor Hal Marx for making comments they believe are racist regarding the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, who died after being pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis&nbsp;police officer on Monday.At least 200 people attended the Petal rally, most wearing masks amid calls of keeping six feet apart for social distancing.There was a brief fight at the rally after one protester interrupted a speaker, but it was&nbsp;quelled quickly as police stepped in and organizers asked people to stop.&nbsp;“Don’t do it. That’s what they want,” people in the crowd shouted.Lorraine Bates, an older Petal woman who walked three miles to city hall for the protest with chains around her feet, grabbed the microphone and started singing a gospel song, which lowered the heated mood.&nbsp;No one was arrested.&nbsp;Prior to the incident, the Rev. Christopher Preston with the Mississippi Rising Coalition said it is time for Marx to step down.&nbsp;Who is Hal Marx?:“Mayor Marx’s comments were hurtful to a lot of people,” he said.&nbsp;Preston, of Collins, called for people to redirect that pain back to Marx.&nbsp;“We’re not here to change his mind, we’re here to change his action,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cody Chandler of Richton, who grew up in Petal, said Marx’s actions are “all messed up.”“I think we all need to get along,” he said. “There’s going to be a civil war or something. It’s going to be 1861 all over again.”&nbsp;(Story continues after photo gallery.)Signs of “Black lives matter,” “I can’t breathe” and “Fight for a better South” dotted the crowd.&nbsp;Protesters stood peacefully In small groups, some close to city hall’s front door, others standing further away. They continued to trickle in as the rally progressed with motivational speakers leading cheers.&nbsp;On the same day as the protest, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested, days after video circulated of him holding his knee to&nbsp;Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes before Floyd died.Nineteen-year-old Celeste Garden-May of Petal said she took Marx's comments personally."I thought if he really thought like that, he could have just kept it to himself because he doesn't know the hard struggles that black lives go through," she said.She said while all lives matter, now is a critical time for blacks since more are dying through violence than ever before."During this point in time, black lives are being taken more than any other race in this country and it needs to stop."Related:Former Petal resident Sasha Lewis, a 17-year-old from Hattiesburg, said she was offended by Marx said the police were being crucified, when video of Floyd's last minutes show he was the one whose life was in jeopardy."He also said he wanted to keep everyone neutral, when in fact he wasn't being neutral by choosing the side of injustice," she said. "He hasn't apologized. He doesn't feel any remorse. He just feels that people should have understood him better and that's not enough."Cayla Camp, a Petal native, said she attended the Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday night, going with an open mind, as Marx had asked, but after the meeting she made up her mind to attend the protest.She said she&nbsp;was disappointed Marx didn't take the initiative to resign ahead of the protests, which would hopefully reduce the possibility of the protest erupting in violence."He had no remorse, he did not apologize," Camp said. "He just did not seem to respect the words and the opinions of the city. It was very clear that the majority wanted him to step down."Marx came under fire earlier this week after posting on Twitter and Facebook,&nbsp;"If you can say you can’t breathe, you’re breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack. Video doesn’t show his resistance that got him in that position. Police being crucified." referencing Floyd's death and the police officer's&nbsp;actions.The tweet and his account have since been deleted.The comments prompted a storm on social media, including the mayor and his family receiving threats of violence and even death, he said.Story continues after photo gallery.Got to go:An employee with the Jones County Sheriff’s Department was fired after making a&nbsp;comment on Facebook&nbsp;about Floyd’s death Thursday night.Marx , saying he was only asking people to wait for more information before blaming police for Floyd's death."I think that people are so quick to judge the police before they have all the facts," he said in an earlier story. "I can't say whether a crime was committed or whether they did anything right or&nbsp;wrong, all I'm saying is don't rush to judgment based on what you see in that video."Wrong idea:On Thursday, the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously at a special meeting to , but the mayor refused, saying everyone seeking his removal from office are bullies and he needs to stand up to them.Residents and others were there also demanding the mayor resign.Marx, who was first voted into office in 2009, was reelected twice. His current term expires June 30, 2021. He has said previously he will&nbsp;not seek a fourth term.&nbsp;In May 2018, Marx announced he was in the 2019 race, but in January 2019 after his wife was diagnosed with cancer.(Story continues after photo gallery.)About 20 people gathered on the steps on the Mississippi Capitol Friday afternoon to call for justice for Floyd. Protesters chanted, sang "We Shall Overcome," and held up signs.One read "Let them breathe." Another said, "Jail killer cops."As the protesters took to the streets, two TV reporters with a protester walking in the middle lane,&nbsp;nearly running them over before speeding away.&nbsp;Story continues below videoWhen asked at a press conference about the protest in Jackson, Gov. Tate Reeves said protesting against the government is a constitutional right that is foundational to American society.“I fully support everyone’s individual right to protest their government,” Reeves said.Still, Reeves called for the protests to be peaceful and for protesters to wear masks and practice social distancing during any demonstration.View Comments

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsThis story will be updated.PETAL — Protesters gathered Friday at Petal City Hall to demand the resignation of Mayor Hal Marx for making comments they believe are racist regarding the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, who died after being pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis&nbsp;police officer on Monday.At least 200 people attended the Petal rally, most wearing masks amid calls of keeping six feet apart for social distancing.There was a brief fight at the rally after one protester interrupted a speaker, but it was&nbsp;quelled quickly as police...

Protesters call for ouster of Petal mayor over George Floyd death comments

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