Petition to Rename the Ross Barnett Reservoir

In 1962, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett became a national symbol of resistance to desegregation when he used the power of his office to prevent James Meredith, a Black veteran and citizen of Mississippi, from enrolling at the University of Mississippi.

Despite federal court orders requiring Meredith’s admission, Barnett personally prevented Meredith from registering and continued efforts to obstruct his enrollment. His resistance culminated in a historic confrontation between the State of Mississippi and the federal government during one of the defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement.

Today, one of Mississippi’s most prominent public landmarks continues to bear his name: the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

The Reservoir was named for Governor Barnett in 1963, shortly after the Meredith crisis. For many Mississippians, continuing to place Barnett’s name on a major state-managed public resource is not simply a recognition of history—it is an honor bestowed upon a public official whose legacy is inseparably connected to government-sponsored resistance to racial integration.

Mississippi cannot change its history, nor should it attempt to erase it. But remembering history is different from continuing to honor a particular individual through the naming of a public landmark.

A Legacy That Continues to Generate Controversy

Recent events have brought renewed public attention to the Barnett family name.

In June 2026, Jackson Jambalaya reported that attorney M. Judith “Judy” Barnett, a granddaughter of former Governor Ross Barnett, and her son, W. Sykes, were allegedly involved in providing contraband to Barnett’s then-client, Justin Fowler, during an attorney visit at the Rankin County jail on May 20, 2026.

According to the law-enforcement account in the report, investigators alleged that Fowler was given a vape and other items during the meeting and that the encounter was captured by jail surveillance cameras. The report further stated that Fowler subsequently tested positive for substances that had not been detected at intake.

Importantly, Barnett and Sykes had not been criminally charged in connection with those allegations at the time of the report, and allegations are not findings of guilt. Every person is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

The circumstances generated sufficient concern during Fowler’s subsequent probation-revocation proceeding, in which he was sentenced to serve 5 years in MDOC, and Rankin County Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur directed that a transcript of the proceeding be provided to the Mississippi Bar and expressed his hope that law enforcement and the State would likewise address the matter.

These recent allegations do not determine the historical legacy of Governor Ross Barnett, nor should the conduct alleged against his descendants be attributed to him. They do, however, illustrate why Mississippi should reconsider whether a major public landmark should continue to function as a permanent tribute to any particular political family or legacy—especially one already associated with one of the most divisive chapters in the State’s history. The question is larger than one family.

It is a question of whom Mississippi chooses to honor in its public spaces and what those honors communicate to future generations.

A Name That Represents Mississippi’s Future

We call upon the appropriate state and local authorities to begin the process of renaming the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

The Reservoir is more than a body of water. It provides recreation, economic activity, residential communities, and gathering places for people throughout Mississippi. Its name should be one that Mississippians from every background can share with pride.

Renaming the Reservoir does not require forgetting Ross Barnett or removing him from Mississippi history. His administration, opposition to James Meredith’s enrollment, and the events of 1962 should continue to be taught and remembered. But history belongs in history books, museums, archives, and classrooms.

 Honor is a separate question.

We propose that Mississippi establish a transparent public process—whether through public hearings, statewide input, community nominations, or another appropriate democratic process—to select a name reflecting the history, geography, people, or shared future of Mississippi.

A new name could recognize the Pearl River itself, Mississippi’s natural heritage, an individual whose contributions united rather than divided our State, or another name chosen through meaningful public participation.

This is an opportunity not to erase Mississippi’s past, but to demonstrate what Mississippi has learned from it and commits to do better.

By signing this petition, we ask Mississippi’s leaders to begin the public process of renaming the Ross Barnett Reservoir and to give Mississippians a voice in choosing a name that represents our State today and the future we intend to build.

We respectfully request that the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Board of Directors formally place the proposed renaming of the Ross Barnett Reservoir on its agenda for consideration and public discussion. We further request that the Board, the Governor, and other appropriate State officials acknowledge this Petition and publicly state their respective positions regarding the proposed renaming on or before December 31, 2026.