Rising tensions between law enforcement and the public throughout the country have inspired local attorneys and law enforcement to open up a clear path to dialogue in Vicksburg.

Know Your Rights Legal Forum will be held Saturday, July 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Center, 1512 Main St.

The purpose of the forum is to advise people of their legal rights particularly when it comes to criminal matters, youth court, disability and elderly law. Law enforcement will be present to explain proper policies and procedures when it comes to traffic stops and other interactions with police.

“We just want people to know we can have a good relationship with law enforcement,” attorney and forum sponsor Kimberly Nailor said. “We have to have a mutual respect, law enforcement has to have a mutual respect with citizens and citizens have to have a respect for law enforcement.”

She hopes giving citizens a place to express their concerns and ask questions will cultivate that resect and strengthen relationships.

Randy Naylor of the Randy J. Naylor Memorial Foundation is sponsoring this event because it follows the foundation’s mission to support events to enrich local youth.

Naylor’s father, who the foundation is named after, was a police officer in Vicksburg. “We’re here to work together not against each other,” Naylor said.

He said the forum will be engaging and interactive by getting the crowd involved. Scenarios will be acted out to illustrate the proper action people should take in interactions with the law.

“We want to be proactive not reactive,” Naylor said.

Assistant district attorney Angela Carpenter will be part of the forum’s panel. However, she said as a prosecutor, she will not advise or counsel anyone at the forum. Her role instead is to help inform the community of her office’s role in the legal process.

“It’s important to me as an assistant DA as well as our office to ensure that our community is educated and well informed on the issues affecting them,” she said. “I believe that this forum is much needed to cultivate a better understanding of how the legal process works as well as an understanding of our office’s role in that process.”

Other panelist will be Municipal Court Judge Toni Terrett, investigator Curtis Judge, criminal defense attorney Mikey Warren, social security and disability attorney Alecia Reed-Owens, youth court attorney Jamita Elmore Gilleylen and elderly law with attorney Noah Drake. Gaskin Family Chiropractic will also sponsor the forum.