Organizer: Mississippi United says petitions, signatures can press leaders

Mississippi United celebrated six months of organizing by helping residents contact elected officials and by hand-delivering a 620-signature letter to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, an organizer wrote in a guest essay for Mississippi Today.

The organizer said the group’s stated goals are to make it easier for people to raise their voices on policy, encourage constituents to pressure politicians and help citizens engage in the democratic process. Mississippi United prepares letters to lawmakers, enables online sign-ons, shares tips on legislation and publicizes a calendar of related events, the essay said.

The essay said several members, including four military veterans, took the group’s letter demanding a congressional investigation and public hearings on the war in Iran to Wicker’s Jackson office. A staffer told the group the senator “has no power” over President Trump’s war in Iran, the organizer wrote. Two of the veterans left the office in protest, the organizer said.

The organizer used the essay to outline broader policy aims, saying Mississippi could expand access to health care, improve public education and child care, boost median household income above $55,000 and hold lawmakers accountable on issues such as Medicaid expansion, immigrant detention costs and proposed data-center projects. Those positions were presented as the group’s priorities in the guest essay.

The organizer said Mississippi United will continue to build its resource library, circulate calls to action and urge residents to demand answers and accountability from elected officials. The group said it seeks to simplify the process of learning about issues and contacting policymakers so more Mississippians will participate.

Source: Original Article