By: CA Staff Writer Oct 23, 2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi – In the face of misreporting and political division, Dave Houston, a passionate Clarksdale citizen, took to social media to set the record straight. A longtime advocate for the well-being of his city, Houston addressed inaccuracies surrounding a sensitive issue involving his family, specifically his aunt, Jackie White Houston, and her son, Jeremy White Houston.
Jackie, a grieving mother, recently appeared before the Board of Commissioners to seek help in the wake of her son’s death. However, a local news report in the Clarksdale Press Register misquoted the events, prompting Dave Houston to speak out. “My aunt didn’t speak about cop cameras or Charles Jones,” Dave clarified in his post. “She doesn’t want to be in the middle of no political mess.” Instead, Jackie’s focus was on the loss of her son and the pain she feels as a mother asking for answers.
Dave Houston directly addressed the report’s statement about Mayor Chuck Espy, who was quoted as saying that had Charles Jones been there, Jeremy would still be alive. Houston refuted this claim, urging people to watch the board meeting video where the mayor actually said, “Had those three officers been with the city, could it have stopped his murder and all these other senseless murders? I don’t know!”
This moment, Dave stressed, was not about politics but about truth and respect for his grieving aunt. “Please don’t use this time to play all in my family’s face about politics,” he added. He went on to say that his aunt simply wanted the mayor to acknowledge the pain that families like hers are experiencing and to understand the importance of doing more to address Clarksdale’s growing violence.
Dave highlighted Mayor Espy’s candid response to his aunt’s plea, where the mayor admitted, “I dropped the ball,” and acknowledged that more could have been done in light of the tragic loss. “At this point, my aunt left the meeting,” Dave shared. “Mayor Espy then looked to his board and said, ‘Y’all don’t need me. Mrs. Houston does,’ before he got up and had a sit-down conversation with my aunt.”
Houston’s message was clear: let his aunt grieve in peace and don’t twist her words for political gain. But beyond his defense of his family, Dave used this platform to urge Clarksdale’s leaders and citizens to focus on the bigger picture – the city’s future. “We all know our city needs help. Let’s all pour our energy into fixing this city,” he wrote. He stressed the importance of unity, pointing out that division within Clarksdale is doing more harm than good. “We are divided in this city like two rival gangs! It’s no better than being the same thugs shooting and killing each other y’all complaining about!”
Dave’s call to action wasn’t just directed at Clarksdale’s leaders but also at its citizens. He emphasized that real change requires collective effort, starting from within the community. “Our focus must start in our homes, our city, our county, our state, and our country. In THAT order!”
As Clarksdale continues to face challenges, voices like Dave Houston’s are crucial in pushing for accountability, unity, and a vision for a better future. His advocacy for truth and his stand against political gamesmanship reflect the heart of a community member who wants nothing more than to see his city rise.
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