Vicksburg’s juvenile curfew lifted, mayor to speak at Friday’s march

Monday morning at the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. announced that he would be lifting the juvenile curfew effective immediately.

Curfews have been in effect due to the COVID-19 crisis in Vicksburg since March 23 and were extended for juveniles April 3. The initial, adult curfew was lifted May 21 in conjunction with the city’s casinos reopening, and as of Monday, June 1, the juvenile curfew has also been lifted.

Before Monday’s meeting, Flaggs met with the organizers of a march to honor George Floyd. Floyd died at the hands of police May 25 in Minneapolis. Americans across the nation are holding protests over his death, and many of them have become violent.

The Vicksburg march, which is organized to be nonviolent, is scheduled for Friday, June 5, at 3 p.m. starting at the Vicksburg Police Department on Veto Street.

“I will be one to march with them, and I will be one of the speakers,” Flaggs said. “I believe chief Moore will agree with me that he is zero-tolerance when it comes to the behavior of an officer or anybody, and he asks that everybody provide the very best professionalism they can.”

On-site at the march, TJ Mayfield will hold a voter registration drive.

“The best way to show frustration about injustice and government is at the voting place,” Flaggs said. “If you think somebody is not doing what they should do, go vote, Go vote! Vote them out as best you can, including me.”

Later in the meeting, the board recognized the following city employees’ anniversaries:

For 10 years of service:

• Marlin Nickson – Ambulance Department
• Shondaric Judge – Fire Department

25 years of service:

• Janice Robinson – Water & Gas Administration

Finally, the United Way will be hosting its annual Day of Action Thursday, June 25. Details on the event will be publicized in the coming weeks.