THE MISSISSIPPI HORSE TRAINER INCIDENT 

Fists raised in protest and at times heads bowed in prayer, hundreds of people gathered in a small
Mississippi town to demand justice in the case of a black man who died after a physical encounter with a white police officer. Sanders, who was out exercising his horse, died after crossing paths with part-time Stonewall police officer Kevin Herrington, 25, late July 8. What happened that night is
intensely disputed, and has raised tensions in this small former mill town where hundreds of people turned out Sunday night for a march on the local police station demanding action.The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating with assistance from the FBI.Lawyers for Sanders' family and for witnesses say Herrington attacked without provocation after the two saw each other at a convenience store a mile across town. C.J. Lawrence, who represents three witnesses, said Sanders was doing nothing illegal and didn't resist while Herrington choked him to death.

But Herrington's attorney, Bill Ready Jr., said Sanders had what appeared to be illegal drugs and grabbed the officer's gun during a struggle.

Herrington is on unpaid leave and left town on a family trip, Ready said. Sanders' survivors buried him Saturday.