There are 19 Mississippi school districts rated “F” by the Mississippi Department of Education and all 19 of them predominantly African-American, while the state’s five highest-performing school districts are predominantly white, the Southern Poverty Law Center says.

These statistics have pushed four parents to contact the Southern Poverty Law Center to file a lawsuit asking a federal judge to force state leaders to comply with the 1870 law. This law states that Mississippi cannot deny any citizen of their “school rights and privileges.”

The parent that filed the lawsuit are asking for basic necessities their children’s schools “lack textbooks, literature, basic supplies, experienced teachers, sports and other extracurricular activities, tutoring programs and even toilet paper,” the SPLC said.

This is not just an issue in Mississippi but they are shining a light on the problem and demanding change.

“I’m filing this lawsuit because the state has an obligation to make the schools that Black kids attend equal to the schools that white kids attend,” said Indigo Williams, the parent of a first-grade boy at Raines Elementary School in west Jackson.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, one of the defendants named in the lawsuit, is calling foul play. He believes this is a frivolous lawsuit and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“This is merely another attempt by the Southern Poverty Law Center to fundraise on the backs of Mississippi taxpayers,” the governor said in a statement. “While the SPLC clings to its misguided and cynical views, we will continue to shape Mississippi’s system of public education into the best and most innovative in America.”

He said funds are being allocated toward charter schools which will give these parents more academic options.