Hinds County hearing Monday on saggy pants ban

As a Jackson City Councilman, Kenneth Stokes failed to pass a ban on saggy pants. Now he's a Hinds County supervisor, and pushing for a county-wide ban.

The supervisors will hold a public hearing about the proposal Monday morning. The American Civil Liberties Union plans a protest before the hearing.

Stokes tells The Clarion-Ledger that saggy pants can be a bad influence on younger people.

The civil liberties group says such bans unfairly target black men and are unconstitutional restrictions of freedom of expression.

Columbia, Columbus, Guntown, Indianola, Meridian, Ripley, Saltillo and Wiggins are among Mississippi cities that have banned saggy pants. Their ordinances forbid pants or skirts that ride more than three inches below the top of hips and which expose skin or underwear.