Over a five-year period, 2012 to 2017, Madison County’s black population accounted for 77% of all arrests. 72 percent of all citations were issued and almost 76 percent was arrested at roadblocks. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 74% of traffic stop arrests were made by blacks. African Americans account for 38 percent of the county’s population. Plaintiffs’ attorneys request that the legal challenge be considered a class action lawsuit. They claim this is supported by these statistics. Joshua Tom, the legal director of the ACLU of Mississippi, stated that MCSD’s paperwork clearly shows that it targets black citizens for arrest. Joshua Tom, legal director for the ACLU of Mississippi, stated that “MCSD’s own paperwork confirms that it targets black citizens for arrest.” Plaintiffs represented by the ACLU, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York, claim that the sheriff’s office ran a “top down program” of targeting black communities using unconstitutional policing tactics like “show-ID and-search pedestrian checkpoints,” roving roadsblocks, ‘jumpouts’ by plainclothes officers in unmarked cars, and warrantless home invasions. Lawrence Blackmon, plaintiff, spoke at a news conference to announce the findings. According to him, deputies broke into his Canton residence without a warrant and searched for his cousin. Blackmon stated, “They” made him lay on the ground and then handcuffed him at gunpoint. They searched my house for my cousin, who they informed that he was not living there anymore. Blackmon stated that this was just one of many such incidents in the community. He said, “It was (another reminder) of the fact Madison County’s black population often means that Madison County Sheriff’s Department can disregard your constitutional rights.” The sheriff’s office has until May 8 for attorneys to respond.