Jackson, MS Mayor Chokwe Lumumba has died

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JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba has died.

We don't have many details, but Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham Stewart has confirmed his death.

Lumumba won the Mayor's office in June 4, 2013, pulling 86% of the vote and defeating independent candidates Francis P. Smith, Jr. , Richard C. Williams and Cornelius Griggs.

Mayor Lumumba was born August 2, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. He is the second of eight children born to Lucien and Priscilla Francis Taliaferro.

Mayor Lumumba earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He later finished first in his law school freshman class before graduating cum laude from Wayne State University Law School.

Mayor Lumumba is a nationally renowned attorney who is licensed in Mississippi, Michigan and U.S. Federal Courts. He has represented clients in over 16 jurisdictions, including Canada and the Choctaw Court.

Mayor Lumumba has won settlements and/or judgments for victims of medical malpractice, employment discrimination, sexual harassment and police misconduct. He has worked in high profile cases such as the representation of the late Tupac Shakur.

In 2011, he helped win the release of the Scott Sisters who had served 16 years of double life prison sentences for an $11.00 (eleven-dollar) robbery which they did not commit. He also successfully represented Lance Parker who was falsely accused of assault during the 1992 Los Angeles uprising which followed the brutal beating of Rodney King.

Prior to his election as Mayor, Mr. Lumumba served as Jackson City Councilman for Ward 2.

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