Mississippi man charged in cross burning near black residence

Published 11:22 am Monday, July 1, 2019

A white man faces federal charges in a 2017 cross burning outside the home of African American residents in a small Mississippi town.

Court documents show Graham Williamson is charged with intimidating and interfering with fair housing and conspiring to use fire or explosives to commit a felony.

The U.S. attorney for south Mississippi filed an information June 24, saying on Oct. 24, 2017, Williamson and another person built a wooden cross and burned it “with the intention of intimidating and frightening” black residents of Seminary, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) south of Jackson.

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An information is similar to an indictment but is often filed when a person facing charges waives the right to have a grand jury consider a case.

Court records Monday didn’t list an attorney for Williamson.