Press Releases
Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mississippi for a Just World
Email: info@ms4jw.org
Honoring Their Lives: Mississippi Hosts 24-Hour Vigil for Palestine
October 13, 2025 (Jackson, MS) — Mississippi for a Just World (MSJW) will host a 24-hour prayer vigil titled “Honoring Their Lives” beginning Monday, October 20, 2025, at 7:30 AM at the intersection of Woodrow Wilson Avenue and State Street in Jackson.
The vigil will call aloud the documented names of over 60,000 Palestinians killed by Israel since October 2023, honoring their lives through prayer, reflection, and community gathering. The event will include interfaith participation, continuous reading of names, and a candlelighting ceremony and community prayer from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Monday.
“This vigil is an act of love and resistance,” said Candace Abdul-Tawwab, Executive Director of MSJW. “We come together to name the lives lost, to demand an end to genocide, and to remind our communities that building a more just world from Jackson to Palestine is sacred work.”
Participants of all faiths and ages are invited to attend at any time during the 24 hours. Snacks and candles will be provided.
Details:
What: 24-Hour Vigil for Palestine: Honoring Their Lives
When: 7:30 AM, Monday, October 20 – 8:00 AM, Tuesday, October 21
Where: Intersection of Woodrow Wilson and State Street, Jackson, MS
Volunteer: bit.ly/msjwvigil
Learn more about our work at www.mississippiforajustworld.org
Stay up-to-date on all MSJW events and programs by signing up for our email list.
About Mississippi for a Just World:
Mississippi for a Just World (MSJW) is a humanitarian organization based in Mississippi that bridges the fight to build a more just world from the Deep South to the Global South. Our goal is to be a living, breathing movement for human rights, deeply rooted in the enduring legacy of Mississippi's human liberation struggle. Across borders and cultures, irrespective of our different political, cultural, and social backgrounds, we are fighting for a world where every individual is empowered, where justice prevails, and where human dignity is non-negotiable.
Our Mission: Rooted in a rich history of resistance, our mission is to serve as champions of human rights from Mississippi to Palestine, to Sudan, to Congo, to Haiti, and to all oppressed people of the world by dismantling systems of harm and injustice through transformative education, collective power building, and political advocacy.
Our Vision: We envision a world where every individual, regardless of their background or circumstance, enjoys fundamental human rights, dignity, and equitable opportunities for a better future. MSJW is committed to fostering collaboration among diverse organizations, working to address the most pressing humanitarian challenges. Through collective action, we aspire to inspire positive change, cultivate empathy, and build bridges of understanding across borders and cultures.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mississippi for a Just World
Email: info@ms4jw.org
Marc Lamont Hill to Speak at Tougaloo College for “Voices for a Just World” Lecture Series
JACKSON, MS (October 9, 2025) – Mississippi for a Just World (MSJW), in partnership with Tougaloo College and Black with No Chaser, will host nationally renowned author, scholar, and activist Dr. Marc Lamont Hill on October 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Woodworth Chapel as part of the Voices for a Just World lecture series. The evening will explore global movements for justice through the lens of solidarity, storytelling, and liberation. Dr. Hill, known for his incisive political analysis and deep commitment to human rights, will address the intersections of race, freedom, and resistance, drawing connections between Mississippi’s legacy of struggle and global fights for equality.
“This series was born from a belief that Mississippi’s stories are deeply connected to the world’s freedom struggles,” said Candace Abdul-Tawwab, Executive Director of Mississippi for a Just World. “Dr. Hill’s voice and vision remind us that justice anywhere requires courage everywhere.”
The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required at bit.ly/justvoices. Doors open at 5:30 PM, and seating is limited.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 to 8:30 PM
Location: Woodworth Chapel, Tougaloo College, 6550 Tougaloo Blvd, Tougaloo, MSRegistration: Registration Link
Learn more about our work at www.mississippiforajustworld.org
Stay up-to-date on all MSJW events and programs by signing up for our email list.
About Mississippi for a Just World:
Mississippi for a Just World (MSJW) is a humanitarian organization based in Mississippi that bridges the fight to build a more just world from the Deep South to the Global South. Our goal is to be a living, breathing movement for human rights, deeply rooted in the enduring legacy of Mississippi's human liberation struggle. Across borders and cultures, irrespective of our different political, cultural, and social backgrounds, we are fighting for a world where every individual is empowered, where justice prevails, and where human dignity is non-negotiable.
Our Mission: Rooted in a rich history of resistance, our mission is to serve as champions of human rights from Mississippi to Palestine, to Sudan, to Congo, to Haiti, and to all oppressed people of the world by dismantling systems of harm and injustice through transformative education, collective power building, and political advocacy.
Our Vision: We envision a world where every individual, regardless of their background or circumstance, enjoys fundamental human rights, dignity, and equitable opportunities for a better future. MSJW is committed to fostering collaboration among diverse organizations, working to address the most pressing humanitarian challenges. Through collective action, we aspire to inspire positive change, cultivate empathy, and build bridges of understanding across borders and cultures.
In the News
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![A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators stand on the University of Southern Mississippi campus holding signs with messages like “Free Palestine,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Condemn the Genocide in Gaza.” Most protesters wear masks, and one person hol]()
Hattiesburg American
On May 7, 2024, approximately 50 students and faculty from “USM for Palestine” held a silent, peaceful protest on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus, calling for the university to divest from Israeli-linked investments. The one‑hour demonstration featured sign‑holding and no arrests or counter‑protests—contrasting sharply with a confrontation at the University of Mississippi days earlier.
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![The silhouette of a man wearing a keffiyeh scarf stands against a warm orange sky at sunset. Blurred lights and the outline of construction cranes are visible in the background, creating a solemn atmosphere.]()
Mississippi Today
In October 2024, a growing number of Mississippians rallied for a ceasefire in Gaza and full Palestinian liberation, despite the state’s continued political and financial alignment with Israel. Starting with small vigils and led by diverse organizers—including veterans and students—these protests expanded across cities like Gulfport and Oxford, reflecting Mississippi’s civil rights legacy and highlighting internal tensions over the decades‑old conflict.
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![A person draped in a black-and-white keffiyeh stands beside another attendee during a nighttime vigil. A red banner with “Free Palestine” written in white is partially visible, illuminated by a light source, while the background remains dark.]()
The Guardian
On October 23, 2024, around 40 people gathered in Oxford, Mississippi outside city hall for a vigil organized by UMiss for Palestine, honoring approximately 42,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023. Attendees held tea candles, flowers, shared poems and reflection, and distributed informational materials. The event concluded peacefully—monitored by police and legal observers—with organizers urging sustained solidarity.
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![A large group of young, mostly white male counter-protesters cheer and shout on the University of Mississippi campus. One man in front wears American flag overalls and sunglasses, while others are clapping, smiling, or filming the scene.]()
The Guardian
At the University of Mississippi, dozens of students protested Israel’s war in Gaza and demanded transparency on the institution’s ties to Israel. They were met by hundreds of largely white, male counter-protesters waving U.S. and Trump flags, chanting, and throwing items. Racist taunts—such as monkey noises directed at a Black woman—prompted wide condemnation. Police safely evacuated the pro‑Palestinian demonstrators.
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![A digital collage shows historic black-and-white photos of people navigating floodwaters alongside modern images of Gaza flooding. The blend of past and present floods highlights parallels between the 1927 Mississippi Flood and the devastation in Gaz]()
Scalawag Magazine
Mary Heglar draws a trans‑historic parallel between Gaza’s deadly 2023 flood and the catastrophic 1927 Mississippi Flood. Both disasters stem from settler-colonial systems that defied Indigenous wisdom to control rivers. The essay links Gaza’s modern suffering to America’s past, revealing how systems of domination and ecological violence transcend time and geography.
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![A crowd of pro-Palestinian students stands behind barricades, holding signs like “Stop the Genocide” during a campus protest. A larger group of counter-protesters is visible across the lawn. A photographer captures the tense scene.]()
Mississippi Today
On May 2, 2024, a small group of pro‑Palestinian students at the University of Mississippi called for academic divestment from Israeli-linked investments. They were confronted by roughly 200 mostly white male counter‑protesters who outnumbered and harassed them—throwing bottles, chanting slogans, and drowning out their messages. Campus police evacuated the student demonstrators within an hour.
