State senator arrested on gun charge in Quitman election

State senator arrested on gun charge in Quitman election

State Senator Robert Jackson of Marks was arrested Saturday, Aug. 27, by Quitman County sheriff’s deputies after a man working for a candidate opposing Jackson’s wife’s bid for election as tax assessor-tax collector accused Jackson of threatening him with a pistol inside a McDonald’s outlet two days earlier. Gloria Richmond Jackson, the senator’s wife, had a firm lead late into the evening in the August 23 runoff for Quitman County tax assessor-tax collector. But when the Jacksons awoke Wednesday morning after the election, she was reported as having lost by 170 votes based on absentee votes. Memphis Television Station WREG-Channel 3 identified the man as Darnell Survillion, an African American who also resides in Marks.

Survillion swore out an affidavit that accused Jackson of pulling a 40 caliber handgun and threatening to kill him if he didn’t stop working for Mrs. Jackson’s opponent. But neither Survillion nor Jackson was interviewed for the report that included several of the county’s white residents castigating Jackson on-screen for his purported gun-toting behavior.

“The statement the guy submitted to justice court was totally false,” Jackson said. “He is a convicted felon and was released in 2009, and the white community has been using him throughout this election to harass the black voters, especially those who are supporting my wife “I was arrested on Saturday on what I know now as charges of stalking. I was accused of seeking to instill fear in the man. I’ll be arraigned in justice court on September 22. I’m looking forward to having my day in court.” Jackson says the man accusing him of threatening him with a gun swore out an affidavit against him and Jackson, however, says the whole matter is being played out in conjunction with a widespread attempt at voter fraud that has the county bringing in 39 percent absentee ballots, to bolster white candidates’ winning edges in a 60-percent black majority county.

The Jackson Advocate
h/t Majority in Mississippi