Day After Peaceful Tupelo Protests

by Victoria Bailey

TUPELO, Miss.(WCBI)—The sun came up over Tupelo the day after two groups held peaceful demonstrations surrounding the death of Ronnie Shumpert.

Yesterday also brought to light an administration taking a new approach to solving the divide. It could have been stress, strategy or lack of sleep but a different side of Tupelo mayor Jason Shelton surfaced Saturday evening. One ready to go on the offensive. His first target. Shumpert family attorney Carlos Moore who Shelton says is intentionally inciting anger .
Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton says,”Please keep in mind that much of the misinformation is being spread by an out of town attorney with a vested interest in civil litigation filed against the city of Tupelo”
Shelton recognizes there are real problems that need real debate but says the Moore won’t bully the city.
Shelton says,”The city of Tupelo will not be forced into settling a civil lawsuit because of a deliberate campaign of false information designed to invoke the heartfelt passions of good and innocent citizens”
Shelton didn’t contain his discontent just to Moore. He says many of the protesters who took part in the confederate rally are outsiders.
Shelton Says, ” I do want to say that a cursory review of the car tags at Ballard Park indicated that many were outside of Lee county and the vast majority were from outside the state of Mississippi”

Shelton says he wants to mend the city but says that needs to be done by listening to legitimate claims from locals who have peace not profit as the motive