Mississippi Law Means Portland's Mayor Won't be Heading There

Mayor Charlie Hales says a law recently enacted in Mississippi is a "wide-ranging, anti-human rights bill legalizing discrimination" and he wants no part of it.

Hales had been planning to travel to Mississippi with his wife next month for the christening of the U.S.S. Portland, a new Naval transport ship.

They were invited by the Secretary of the Navy.

Hales says that while they would like to go, the new law makes it impossible.

"We will not be taking that trip unless that discriminatory law is repealed," Hales said.

"It would be a shame if the mayor of Portland couldn’t attend the christening of the USS Portland, but I will not travel to a state that legalizes bigotry."

Hales also plans to introduce a resolution banning travel by public officials to Mississippi while the law is in effect."