Mississippi judge approved a temporary order to limit the forcing local paper on Tuesday to overthrow the editorial after the City Council filed a defamation lawsuit.
February 13, four of the Clarksdale City Commissioners unanimously voted sue Clarksdale Press Register for what he claimed was defamation. In particular, the City questioned the editorial board of February 8, entitled “Security, Deception Erode Public Trust” who claimed that the mayor and commissioners did not properly inform the media of the meeting to discuss the new tax.
Press Register editorial he said, “[T]The city of Clarksdale Fail[ed] To go public with details about this idea before sending a resolution to the legislative government in Mississippi, looking for two percent of alcohol, marijuana and tobacco tax. “
“The notification was published at the City Hall under the Law and it is stated that the City” will be on the media for the media, “the editorial board said. However,” these newspapers have never been notified. We know about any other media organization that has been informed. ”
The Clarksdale Press Register was taken by an editorial from earlier this month after a court order on Tuesday. (Google Land)
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City lawyer Melvin Miller II told Fox News Digital: “This meeting was open to the public. It was posted as it was supposed to be, and was on the mayor’s Facebook page, because meetings are usually. Nothing illegally did the commissioners or plates in the whole. “
City Commissioners and Mayor Clarksdale Chuck Espy claimed that the editorial board of the paper was defamation and filed a lawsuit against the work, his owner and editor and publisher, Floyd Ingram.
According to the appeal“In the context of his title, Mr. Ingram also stated strongly or implied the reason why he did not receive a notice of meeting on February 4, 2025, because the Committee and his members received a” blow “, just want a few nights in Jackson to lobby for This idea – at a public expense, “give” candy at Halloween, toys on Christmas Day and host events where politicians can share good bags voters “and made a community ‘doubtful.’ “
“His statements could be reasonably understood as a statement or implying that a” deceptive “reason that was not a notice of a meeting was proven through someone from a community who was willing to reveal the promises by the members of the Committee in exchange for voices or in time,” he continued, “he continued .
The lawsuit further argued that the efforts on the legislation lobby were “cooled and disturbed by the editorial board and if it was allowed to remain available”, immediate and irreversible injury, loss or damage would result in Clarksdale, the Committee and its members and its members and the public. “
On Tuesday, the Hinds Crystal Wise Martin judge’s office approved a city request for a temporary abstaining order to remove the editorial board from their website and made it “inaccessible” public. From Wednesday, the article is no longer available.
The hearing on the City’s request for preliminary ban was appointed for February 27.
“In this case, the injury is defamed against public figures through actual wickedness in reckless disrespect of truth and their legitimate function of advocating legislation, which he believes will help their municipality during this current legislature,” Order read.
Miller told Fox News Digital that this was not an attack on the press, but what the city claimed was a false story.
“We don’t go after the press in general,” Miller said. “We are simply filed for removal of slander editorial staff. Mississippi has no exception to the defamation of the defamation, and it was simply a falsehood that was afraid of a piece of legislation. And that was against the board members, and that hurt the city. Every other reporting on legislation did not go for To him, only where she was untrue about what the members of the committee did. ”
The Clarksdale City Council met earlier this month to discuss a 2% tax on some goods. (City of Clarksdale)
In a commentary on Fox News Digital, the Adam Steinbaugh attorney for individual rights lawyer attacked the decision as “unimaginable”.
” City of Clarksdale, Mississippi, He thinks he knows better than the founder, “Steinbergh said.” Clarksdale asked the court to order a local newspaper to remove the editorial board and wonder why the city is not more transparent in the proposed tax increase. As a result of a city lawsuit, the court ordered the Clarksdale Press Register to delete the Internet introductor. ”
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Continued, “this is unconstitutional. In the United States, the Government cannot determine which opinions could be divided into a public square. The free society does not allow governments to sue the newspaper for the publication of the editorial board. Protection of the rights of the first amendment, explores all opportunities to help the press register in defense of these fundamental rights. ”
Fox News Digital He reached into the Clarksdale Press Register for comment.
