While we are disappointed, it is clear to our family why The Natchez Democrat found it necessary to print Wharlest Jackson Jr.’s name in the newspaper due to the recent accusations against him. Freedom of the press an unbiased reporting are important ideals in American society.

As you state, your newspaper must report on “the good, the bad and the innocent until proven guilty.” We are not clear, however, why Wharlest Jackson was singled out as the only example of these principles in our community.

The newspapers discussion of the many offers to pay to keep names out of the newspaper is especially confusing to us in the context of this article.

We want to make clear that any suggestion or belief that our family offered to pay to remove Wharlest Jackson’s name from the newspaper is false and offensive. We did no such thing.

Another important ideal in American society is the presumption of innocence. Adherence to this principle is essential to our justice system and our democracy. It must apply to everyone in our community.

There are still killers in our community who have never been brought to justice. Wharlest Jackson Sr., an officer of the NAACP, was murdered because he accepted a position reserved up until then for whites at Armstrong Rubber and Tire here in Natchez in 1967.

We wonder why The Natchez Democrat has not been a leader in investigating this unsolved crime of racial violence.

Denise Ford, on behalf of the Jackson family

Natchez resident

Editor’s note: No one from the Jackson family contacted The Democrat in hopes of keeping Wharlest Jackson Jr.’s recent arrest out of the newspaper. We did not mean to imply that anyone had and apologize to the family for any confusion we may have caused. The Democrat has remained steadfast in recent years in its support of finding the person or persons responsible for Wharlest Jackson Sr.’s death, and will continue to be supportive of all efforts to do so.