Mississippi judge orders local paper to remove editorial, sparking outrage
A Mississippi judge issued a Tuesday order forcing the Clarksdale Press Register to remove an editorial criticizing city officials, sparking First Amendment concerns and pushback from press advocates.
The piece, titled “Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust” accused authorities in Clarksdale, Miss., of intentionally failing to notify the outlet about a City Council meeting on a proposed tax for alcohol, marijuana and tobacco products.
Judge Crystal Wise Martin ruled in favor of a temporary restraining order requested by city officials and scheduled a full hearing for Feb. 27, according to The Associated Press.
“I think it’s dangerous that a judge would issue a temporary restraining order without a hearing,” Wyatt Emmerich, president of the paper’s parent company, Emmerich Newspapers, told the AP.
“We’ll fight it and see where it goes.”
Local officials described the piece as libelous and untrue.
The editorial was not found on the outlet’s website as of Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re all for the press doing their job. We’re all for as much transparency as possible,” Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy (D) said. “Just tell the truth. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.”
However, other journalists in the state sided with the publication, describing Martin’s ruling as an infringement on press freedoms.
“This is a rather astounding order and we feel it is egregious and chilling,” said Layne Bruce, executive director of the Mississippi Press Association, told the AP.
“It clearly runs afoul of the First Amendment and we fully support the Press Register’s right to report and offer commentary on the business of Clarksdale’s city government.”
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