Nearly two years ago a crisis struck North County that sparked action. As an elected official in Dellwood, following the unrest in nearby Ferguson, I’ve seen first-hand the strength of our community, while also feeling the burden of our shared frustration. This election we have the opportunity to change that and elect a leader that has stood with us and is committed to creating real change.
Too many black children in St. Louis, in Ferguson, and right here in Dellwood are in struggling schools. Too many of our children face disproportionately severe punishments that send them into the criminal justice system far too early in life and will continue a cycle of high recidivism rates that is too hard to overcome.
We cannot continue to accept such a status quo – one of lower pay and failing urban schools, of disproportionate imprisonment rates and mistrust between our communities and those in uniform.
We cannot continue to accept such a status quo – and that includes a U.S. senator who, after nearly 20 years in Washington, is committed to this status quo.
After nearly two decades in Congress, Senator Roy Blunt consistently puts the interests of Washington lobbyists before the needs of Missourians, and well before the needs of Missouri’s black communities. That’s why Senator Blunt has received yet another “F” grade from the NAACP for the most recent Congress, when he voted with them on crucial bills only 18 percent of the time.
On issue after issue of immense importance to our community, Senator Blunt has let us down.
Time and again, he’s voted against important bills like the American Jobs Act, which would have created at least 9,300 jobs we sorely need here in St. Louis and across Missouri alone. And from Pre-K and Headstart to Pell Grants for higher education, Senator Blunt has repeatedly voted for funding cuts that would make it more difficult for young Missourians to get the education they deserve.
As the Voting Rights Act was gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court, he stood idly by and waffled when asked if states with long, recent histories of discrimination at the ballot box no longer need national oversight. He’s even supported voter ID proposals that amount to some of the greatest voter suppression since the Voting Rights Act – proposals that unfairly target seniors, the working poor and people of color.
Luckily, we do have one candidate in this race who will fight for us in the Senate. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander represents a new generation of leadership willing to tackle issues of racial prejudice and work for a society where everyone can get ahead.
After the events in Ferguson, Jason was there, and he and I together toured the damage in Dellwood. Jason was there in August of 2014 immediately following the Mike Brown incident, and he was there the day after the announcement of the Grand Jury’s decision in November of 2014, which sparked another round of unrest. Jason was the only statewide elected official that was there for Dellwood during both events.
Jason is willing to say, loudly, that black lives matter, and he’s willing to follow that up with real action. He has consistently fought against voter ID laws and advocated for more body cameras to increase transparency among our police departments.
As secretary of state, he removed the criminal-records check box from applications for employment, ensuring that individuals who have been incarcerated have the opportunity for a second chance at a productive life. After Ferguson, he established #FergusonRebuild, a nonprofit initiative that raised $150,000 to help restore local businesses.
Jason knows what we know, that we can’t change the status quo until we change the people who represent us. We also know that the choice we have to make in November is clear: Jason Kander is the voice our community needs in Washington.
Reggie Jones is mayor of Dellwood.
