Rexdale W. Henry: Native-American Activist Found Dead in Mississippi Jail; Sandra Bland Comparisons Drawn

In a case not unlike the death of Sandra Bland, Rexdale Henry, a Native American activist, was found dead at 10 a.m. on the morning of July 14 in his jail cell in the Neshoba County Jail in Philadelphia, Miss.

Henry, 53, who was arrested on July 9 for failing to pay a fine, was last seen alive a mere 30 minutes before police found him dead, according to Counter Current News. Reports indicate that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is now looking into the case.

However, due to tensions between the community and law enforcement, Henry's friends, family and colleagues aren't satisfied with authorities' treatment of the case and flew Henry's body out to Florida for an independent autopsy paid for by anonymous donors, according to News One. They hope that the autopsy will get to the bottom of what really happened.

Syracuse University law professors Janis McDonald and Paula Johnson of the school's Cold Case Justice Initiative note that it's imperative to get down to the bottom of this case and shed light on similar injustices that happen in America, according to the Jackson Free Press.

"At a time when the nation is focused on the terrible circumstances of the brutal death of Sandra Bland, it is critical to expose the many ways in which Black Americans, Native Americans and other minorities are being arrested for minor charges and end up dead in jail cells," McDonald said in a statement.

People are now all over social media talking about Henry's death, commenting on the similarities between his death and Bland's. They point out that both were activists, members of minority groups and arrested for minor infractions, according to Bustle.

While not receiving much media attention, Native-Americans are killed by police at a higher rate than any other demographic in this country.

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Native american, Native Americans, Police brutality, Activist, Philadelphia, Mississippi, Indian