Mississippi civil rights attorney seeks congressional seat held by GOP’s Trent Kelly

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Democratic civil rights attorney who has advocated for better treatment of prisoners and testified against Mississippi’s diversity, equity and inclusion ban said Thursday that he is running for Congress.

Cliff Johnson, the director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, said he is seeking the northern Mississippi seat held by Republican Rep. Trent Kelly, who has indicated that he is seeking reelection.

In his announcement video, Johnson criticized cuts to health care and policies that he said favor the wealthy and corporations, not working-class families. He also condemned politicians across the political spectrum, casting himself as a Democrat who isn’t afraid to push back against the party establishment.

“Who’s fault is