JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
As advocates came together to remember the horror that youth prisoners suffered while incarcerated, a landmark decision was announced prohibiting children convicted as adults to be housed at the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility.
The decision by the Mississippi Department of Corrections follows a lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center and American Civil Liberties Union. The lawsuit filed in 2010 charges that conditions at the WGYCF are unconstitutional.
This gave the Friends and Family Members of Youth Incarcerated at Walnut Grove reason to celebrate as they held their vigil in front of the MDOC headquarters Monday morning. The vigil marked the second anniversary of the melee that broke out at WGYCF on February 27, 2010.
On that day 14 youths were injured in the massive fight. One of the injured is suffering from permanent brain damage as a result of the injuries he sustained.
That teen's father, Michael McIntosh, is the founder of the advocacy group and organized the event.
"We will never forget and it is our duty to make sure that no one forgets the failure of the guards and unnecessary bloodshed," McIntosh preached.
The group also protested the outsourcing of the facility's operations to a for-profit company, which in this case is GEO Group Inc. The group did applaud MDOC Commissioner Chris Epps on his decision to remove children from the facility.
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