Clinton Moses, a 31-year-old Black man, who worked at Jackson’s water treatment plant confessed and pleaded guilty to the firebombing in February. He also told federal and local authorities that former Jackson City Council President Louis Armstrong paid him $500 to torch The Advocate. Mr. Armstrong is also Black.

Advocate publisher Charles Tisdale still believes a powerful white business group, bent on driving Black residents and businesses out of the Jackson’s downtown business district, is linked to the firebombing.

Mr. Tisdale admits writing several editorials and publishing articles critical of Mr. Armstrong and Harvey Johnson, Jackson’s first Black mayor, for "kowtowing" to the city’s white power structure. He doesn’t believe that was enough to lead Mr. Armstrong to torch The Advocate.

"They are using two Black brothers here, Armstrong and Moses, to exonerate the white power structure that really firebombed The Jackson Advocate," Mr. Tisdale told The Final Call in a telephone interview. "They have not asked any of the white people, who I implicated in the firebombing, where they were the night our newspaper was bombed," he added.

Mr. Armstrong, who has denied any role in the firebombing, resigned his city council position in February amidst charges of conspiracy and extortion in connection with illegal zoning practices. He and his son have pleaded guilty to the charges and are also expected to be sentenced in May.

Mr. Tisdale maintains the Capital Centers Inc. (CCI) business consortium is behind the act. CCI has come under criticism from The Advocate, which has opposed the consortium, its downtown redevelopment plans and accused CCI of working against Black interests.

"Mr. Armstrong could have been complicit and known what happened. But Moses ... couldn’t have done it," Mr. Tisdale said. He also said Mr. Moses was facing several years in prison for two bank robberies and was coerced into confessing to the firebombing by federal investigators.

Stephanie Parker-Weaver, executive secretary of the Mississippi state Southern Christian Leadership Conference, also believes Mr. Moses’ confession and guilty plea are a smokescreen. The activist, who is now running for Mr. Armstrong’s vacated seat, said she has also been "threatened" for defending the Black community against CCI and the city’s white power elite.

"The U.S. Attorney took a confession from Mr. Moses, but he was never charged or indicted. We need to find out why," Ms. Weaver said, expressing beliefs that CCI officials are behind the firebombing. She also admits that it’s hard to prove charges CCI is to blame and is motivated by an "economic, racial and political ... fascist agenda."

CCI President Donald Shea calls charges that CCI may have been involved in the firebombing "unfortunate."

"We certainly were not involved in any way. Like the rest of the community we deplore the arson that occurred. It’s a real tragedy. We feel that every newspaper has the right to be published. That goes for The Jackson Advocate as well," Mr. Shea said, in a telephone interview. "They have been extremely critical of our organization. I believe they have a misconception about Capital Center and downtown revitalization. We’ve tried to clarify our position (for The Advocate), but so far we haven’t been well received."