Family demands answers in Miss. candidate’s death

(AP) JACKSON, Miss. - Relatives of a slain Mississippi mayoral candidate are renewing their push for a federal investigation.

Clarksdale mayoral candidate Marco McMillian’s body was found Feb. 27.

The case drew national attention after his campaign said he was the first viable, openly gay candidate for office in Mississippi.

McMillian’s sexuality wasn’t a campaign issue, but because the 33-year-old was gay and black, some speculated his death might have been a hate crime. The suspect, who is in custody, also is black.

McMillian’s parents are planning a news conference Thursday with the National Black Justice Coalition and the law firm of Parks & Crump.

The firm also represented Trayvon Martin’s family. Martin was the Florida teenager whose 2012 death at the hands of a neighborhood watch volunteer sparked protests and outrage.