City, JPD Hosting Annual Events Promoting Unity

The City of Jackson has several events planned for this week to encourage a closer bond between the community and the Jackson Police Department.
Those will kick off today and include the City’s annual three-on-three basketball tournament Saturday.
The weeklong lineup will also focus on listening to community members’ suggestions in helping decrease violent crime.
Schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 5: National Night Out
- National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, will kick off from 11 am – 1 pm on Congress Street next to City Hall. A parade caravan will line up at 3:45 pm in front of the Hood Building on President Street and depart at 4:15 pm to tour the city’s neighborhood associations.
Wednesday, Oct. 6: Coffee with a Cop
- The Jackson Police Department will hold its annual Coffee with a Cop from8 am – 10 am at the McDonalds on Highway 80.
Friday, Oct. 8: Precinct Open Houses/Movie in the Park
- JPD will host open houses at all four precincts from 8 am – 5 pm.The City will also host “Food Truck Friday” the same day from 11 am to 2 pm on Congress Street next to City Hall. The day will end with a Movie in the Park from 6 – 9 pm at Smith Park.
Saturday, Oct. 9: Peace in the Streets/Three-On-Three Basketball Tournament
- The City will celebrate its annual “Stop the Violence” and Peace in the Streets march and rally designed to raise awareness and promote peaceful solutions to violent crime. The peace march will begin at 8 am at the Jackson Convention Complex, where marchers will head east down Pascagoula Street to Congress Street in front of City Hall at the Josh Halbert Gardens. The rally will take place until 10 am with conversation, art, entertainment and food throughout the day.
- The highlight of Saturday will be the City’s annual three-on-three basketball tournament beginning at 9:15 am on Pascagoula Street between President and Congress Streetsand end when winners are determined. The tournament is free for kids aged 8 to 17 and $10 for adults to enter.
Sunday, Oct. 10: Spoken Word Over City & Candle Light
- Jackson City Council President Virgi Lindsay will hold a spoken word event from 5 pm – 8 pm Sunday, Oct. 10, at Smith-Wills Stadium, located 1200 Lakeland Dr.
Monday, Oct. 11: Mid-Day Prayer/Crucial Conversations
- JPD will hold a prayer and balloon release at noon at police headquarters located at 327 E. Pascagoula St. That afternoon, beginning at 4 pm, police officials will have “Crucial Conversations” with community members at the Boys and Girls Club at 1450 Capitol St.