The City of Natchez’s plan to establish a monument to a travesty of justice that occurred 52 years ago is good and needed.

In 1965, the then white-controlled city law enforcement exerted its force and ultimately humiliated hundreds of black residents by arresting them without cause.

When the city and county jails reached capacity, approximately 150 of people were bussed to the state prison at Parchman. There they were abused further before eventually being released.

A committee has been carefully studying an appropriate memorial to the sad chapter in Natchez’s 20th century history.

The committee has chosen a location on the grounds of the Natchez City Auditorium for the monument. The location is fitting, as the auditorium was the holding area for those who eventually were taken to Parchman.

The City of Natchez officially apologized for the event 50 years later in 2015.

While we can never erase history, acknowledging the mistakes of the past and making permanent memorials to them may help us never forget them.

By remembering our collective history, hopefully, we can all learn how to never again repeat the same mistakes again.