Governor
Jay Nixon is to be commended for agreeing to put the local control
of the police department issue on the agenda of the Missouri
Special Session in early September 2011.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>There is perhaps no other relic of the Confederacy as invidious, reprehensible and continuing as the act of stripping the City of St. Louis and Kansas City of control of their police departments.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>What many people may not know is this: Missouri was a slave-breeding state where black men, women and children were bred like hogs specifically to be sold on the auction blocks. When the Civil War broke out 150 years ago, the Missouri Legislature was controlled by slave owners. Some of the earliest battles of the Civil War were fought in Missouri.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As the war raged, the slave owner-controlled Missouri Legislature fled from Jefferson City to Boonville, Missouri to support the Confederacy. One of their last legislative acts was to transfer control of the St. Louis and Kansas City police departments to then-Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, a staunch supporter of the Confederacy.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>St. Louis
city and
Kansas City residents fought, shed their blood and gave their lives
in the Civil War to save the Union. The Civil War has been over for
146 years. The Confederacy lost. The Union is safe, yet this
punitive act of disenfranchisement taken against these two great
cities remains with us till today.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In this regard, since June 1861, the City of St. Louis and Kansas City have been consigned to second-class status, denied the same rights, respect, dignity, constitutional protections and privileges that other cities, villages and towns in Missouri enjoyed.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>For more than 100 years, many of Missouri’s political leaders and community activists have fought to correct this injustice. It has been an uphill battle. For just as long, some leaders and organizations vacillated, hedged, dodged, and found one excuse or another to hold onto this shameless, strikingly paternalistic, unconscionable and totally indefensible legacy.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>Today, we are very close, but we are not quite there yet. “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>We thank Governor Nixon for understanding the “fierce urgency of now,” heeding the call from broad sections of our communities – political, religious, civic, labor and media – and agreeing to put this issue on the Special Session agenda of the Missouri Legislature in September 2011.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>We must also thank all the national, state and local elected officials from all parties and countless community organizations and residents who believe that in this day and age, in this 21st Century of ours, enough is indeed enough! The disparate treatment and
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>disenfranchisement of some Missouri taxpayers and voters must be ended decisively and out into the dustbin of human history. “font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>My hope is that all Missouri elected officials, especially the St. Louis region’s legislators, will unite, put aside all personal considerations and internal squabbles, stand up and fight together as one to create the majorities needed to put this abomination behind us once and for all.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Amusa is CEO of ADE Consulting Services, Inc. Email him at
“mailto:wa2005@att.net”>
“mso-fareast-font-family:”>wa2005@att.net
