Contact: Allison K. Aranda, Senior Staff Counsel, Life Legal Defense Foundation, 707-224-6675; Jeff White, Founder, Survivors, 909-213-8472

JACKSON, Miss., March 19, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Life Legal Defense Foundation, in conjunction with the Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, announces a press conference to be held March 20 at 10:00a.m. on the public sidewalk outside of Jackson State University at the corner of John R. Lynch Street and Dalton Street, the very corner where Jackson State Police officers today arrested Jeff White, Founder of Survivors, and threatened to arrest several young people who were all merely peacefully holding signs and handing out literature on the public sidewalk.

Jackson State Police Officers initially agreed that the group could stand on the public sidewalk adjacent to campus. Later, Associate General Counsel for the University, Matthew Taylor, confronted the group and told them they were not permitted to stand on the public sidewalk adjacent to the University. Taylor instructed the police to arrest the group if they did not move across the street away from the students. Taylor claimed that even though the sidewalk was public property that the school had the right to remove the pro-life activists. At the same time, the Survivors observed that the very same sidewalk they were denied access to, was being used by students, passersby, and members of the general public.

Jeff White was cited, released, and charged with disorderly conduct (Mississippi Code section 97-35-3.) White wasn't engaging in disorderly conduct at all. On the contrary, White was kneeling on the sidewalk with leaflets in his hand at the time police handcuffed him and put him in a patrol car.

"I am in shock and disbelief that a person can be arrested for simply standing on a public sidewalk and handing out literature. If there is any principle that is so deeply rooted in this nation's history, it is the right of free speech, and it is shameful that those charged with upholding the law are, in fact, the ones who violated the highest law of the land today. We will fight to defend these brave individuals. We look forward to our day in court." -- Allison K. Aranda, Staff Counsel for Life Legal Defense Foundation

"Jackson State University has demonstrated a total disregard for both local laws and the Constitution. I am proud to be part of a group that will stand against today's civil rights abuses, unwilling to be silenced as a voice for the pre-born." -- Mary Rose Short, Survivors' Director of Campus Outreach

We urge you to contact Matthew A. Taylor, Associate General Counsel for the University, at 601-979-3950 or matthew.a.taylor@jsums.edu to condemn his illegal actions. In the birthplace of the civil rights movement, we expect our civic leaders to respect civil liberties and uphold the Constitution.

About Life Legal Defense Foundation
Life Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1989, and is a nonprofit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information about Life Legal Defense Foundation, visit www.lldf.org.