History will repeat itself, but only if we let it. That’s why educating generations to come is so critical to our community’s future.

The City of Natchez, along with a number of volunteers, is working on a public education piece that will educate future generations on one of the city’s darkest chapters.

In 1965 the City of Natchez perpetrated an atrocity on a couple of hundreds of its citizens. Their only crime was that they were black and dared to exercise their right to peaceably assemble.

Police arrested hundreds and when the city and county jails were full, they packed them on buses and send them to the state prison at Parchman.

There the detainees (they were never charged with a crime, let along found guilty of anything) were abused and demoralized.

Eventually they were released, but the harassment scars remained.

Not much was ever said or done about the matter until the City of Natchez formally apologized on the 50th anniversary of what’s been dubbed the Parchman Ordeal in 2015.

Plans have now been made to erect a monument to the memory of the people who were wrongfully detained and abused at the hands of city, county and state authority.

Approximately half of the money needed to complete the monument has been raised, which means much fundraising work still remains.

The group is soliciting online donations and we would encourage all who can to contribute to the effort.