By Jan Griffey
The Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — Jacqueline “Jackie” Marsaw is living a nightmare of sorts, but one she freely admits she brought on herself.
Marsaw posted a comment on Facebook Saturday, shortly after the shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania, that she meant to be humorous. Unfortunately for her, others did not think the post was funny.
During the rally, a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate Trump but failed in that attempt. One spectator was killed, and two others were critically wounded.
Now, it’s Marsaw’s life that is being threatened by hundreds of people from around the country who have sent her threatening texts, direct messages, emails, and called her cell phone.
“Deputies have all of the screenshots of emails and text messages. I’ve had to block more than 100 people who have sent me direct messages. They have come from Maryland, New York, and different states all over the country to my personal email and phone numbers,” she said.
Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten and his deputies are working to determine who sent each.
“Some of the things we have seen sent to Ms. Marsaw are on the borderline of being a hate crime. People need to refrain from directly or indirectly sending messages to her. If we get your IP address, no matter where in the country you are located, we will be sending a warrant for your arrest. No matter your beliefs, people have a right to be safe,” Patten said. “Hate has no place in America.”
Marsaw’s post read, “I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time oooops that wasn’t me talking.” It quickly went viral when her connection to U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson was discovered.
Marsaw was a case worker and field director for Thompson until she resigned on Sunday.
Thompson has represented Mississippi’s Second Congressional District, which includes Natchez, Vicksburg and most of the western half of the state, since 1993. He is an influential Democrat and was the chairman of the Jan. 6 and Homeland Security committees, among other positions.
In the wake of the assassination attempt on Trump, Thompson has also taken some criticism from Republicans for introducing a bill that would have stripped the former president of his Secret Service protection because of Trump’s status as a convicted felon.
In a statement Tuesday, Thompson said the proposed law would not have affected Trump’s Secret Service protection.
“My bill would not have affected the Secret Service’s presence during this tragic event. It aims to clarify lines of authority when a protectee is sentenced to prison and is in the custody of another law enforcement agency,” Thompson said. “That does not apply to the former President.”
Marsaw said she talked with Thompson and apologized for any trouble she caused him.
“I acted in the heat of the moment. I wish I had not posted that. I don’t want anybody to kill Trump. I don’t care for him, and he attacks my (former) boss, but I don’t want anyone to kill him or anybody else. I am really sorry,” Marsaw said.
On Sunday, an agent with the U.S. Secret Service, the Adams County sheriff, and a sheriff’s deputy went to Marsaw’s house to talk with her.
“He acted like I was the one who tried to kill Trump,” Marsaw said. “He asked me all kinds of questions, like if I had tried to attend a Trump rally or had ever gone to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s home in Florida. Of course, I have not. He asked if I had any explosives in my home or if I had a record of stalking anybody. He walked through the apartment and looked at everything that was on my dresser, wrote down the medications I take.”
She said the agent told her they would also search her cell phone and email records.
“I don’t have anything to hide,” she said. “He asked me what I would say to him if I were in the same room with Trump. I don’t know what I would say. I’m not a harm to anybody. “
Marsaw was a carrier for The Natchez Democrat for decades and has been a lifelong volunteer for the Natchez chapter of the NAACP, as well as other community volunteer organizations.
In addition to those threatening her life, Marsaw also has gotten numerous calls from friends and others who know her and her work in the community.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook for three days straight from people telling me they support me. They have said, ‘God has got you,’ ‘Everybody knows you and they know your heart,’ ‘That wasn’t in your character, you just made a mistake,’ ” she said. “I am not a racist. People who know me know that. I only go against people when I think they are racists. But I don’t want anyone to be harmed regardless.”
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