BOLTON, MS - Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) responded to the Mississippi State Senate’s approval of a resolution to assure a federal judge that the Legislature backs a funding package to settle the 27- year-old Ayers desegregation case.

Congressman Thompson released the following statement:

"The Senate did the right thing by voting to settle this long-running lawsuit. The action they took today will enhance education and increase scholarships for the three historically African American universities. The settlement certainly is a down payment on the equalization of education. I am looking forward to supporting both the Mississippi House and Senate as they work to equalize the funding of higher education in Mississippi."

The Ayers case was filed in 1975 because plaintiffs alleged that Mississippi was neglecting its three historically Black universities - Alcorn State University, Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University. The case was ruled on and remanded by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992. U.S. District Court ruled in 1995 and ordered Mississippi to make changes to its higher education system. The plaintiffs subsequently went to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1997.

Congressman Thompson was an original plaintiff in the case.