Mississippi Free Press Faces False Smear Campaign in Mailer Attack
The Mississippi Free Press, a nonprofit news organization known for fearless and honest reporting, recently faced a false and libelous smear campaign through anonymous mailers sent to select Jackson neighborhoods. The mailers targeted the publication’s editor-in-chief Donna Ladd, investigative reporter Nick Judin, and the entire team with baseless accusations of corruption connections with Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and other Black officials indicted for corruption.
The mailers, filled with pixelated photos and false claims, attempted to intimidate white recipients and donors of the Mississippi Free Press, insinuating guilt by association without any evidence. Ladd compared the tactics used in the mailers to historic efforts to stoke hate and fear by aligning white people with Black figures in an attempt to silence or marginalize voices that challenge racism and bigotry.
The attack, believed to be orchestrated by individuals attempting to undermine the credibility and support of the Mississippi Free Press, also falsely implicated another news organization, the Magnolia Tribune, in the smear campaign. However, the editor of the Magnolia Tribune, Russ Latino, strongly condemned the mailer and emphasized the importance of having diverse voices in journalism.
The Mississippi Free Press stands firm in its commitment to transparent and nonpartisan journalism, urging donors and supporters not to be swayed by such malicious attempts to discredit the publication. Despite facing repeated attacks and threats, Ladd and her team remain dedicated to upholding the values of democracy, transparency, and freedom through their fearless reporting.
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