James Anderson’s Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Two carloads and shouts of “White Power” as they ran down their beating and robbery victim.
The family of a black man run down and killed in a motel parking lot in Jackson, Miss., filed a wrongful-death lawsuit on Tuesday against the group of white teenagers they say is responsible.
The lawsuit, filed in Hinds County Circuit Court in Jackson, depicts the death of James C. Anderson as a racially motivated attack and outlines an evening of drinking that culminated with a caravan of teenagers from a largely white suburban county driving 16 miles to Jackson intent on harassing African-Americans.
“We want to send a message to people who want to use race as a reason to target someone,” said Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center, who joined Winston Thompson III, the family’s lawyer, in filing the suit.
“It appears this group went out to target a black person,” Mr. Dees said.