Civil rights activist Al Sharpton is urging Democrats to launch a congressional investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells if they regain control of the House of Representatives in November.
According to Breitbart, Wells died following a July 4 boat outing to Horn Island, Mississippi, with three white teenagers, a case that has drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny of the states troubled racial history. Speaking in Atlanta at a National Association of Black Journalists convention panel alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump and members of Wells family, Sharpton argued that the unanswered questions surrounding the incident demand far more rigorous inquiry.
I dont know what happened, but I got your history in Mississippi. And the history tells me: Black boy go out with three white kids, three white kids come back. Theres a blurred story on what happened, Sharpton said. Some about this dont make sense, given your history. And Im going to stay on this until we find out what happened. It may be nothing, but were not going to leave that up to chance with people that are distorted. Were going to stay on this case.
Sharpton then pivoted to the stakes of the upcoming elections, openly tying the investigation to a potential shift in partisan power on Capitol Hill. If we have a change in January and there is a Democratic House, I said that if Hakeem becomes the speaker, he needs to have the chair of Judiciary subpoena them to the Judiciary Department, Sharpton continued.
Questions about Wells death have already sparked widespread calls for transparency and accountability from local authorities. Sharpton, actor and producer Tyler Perry, and former NFL player Terrell Owens have jointly offered a $125,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of anyone responsible for Wells death.
Sharpton also rebuked local law enforcement for appearing to dismiss criminal wrongdoing before the facts are fully established. We cant have someone in law enforcement saying there was no foul play before there was an investigation, Sharpton said, underscoring concerns that politicized narratives and premature conclusions could once again overshadow due process and equal justice.
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