Congressman Cleaver's 5th District Fades With Civil Rights History?!?

There's still a lot of debating to do but we wanted to share #TBT historical perceptive that most have overlooked regarding alleged gerrymandering of Kansas City. 

The reality is that as recently as 2021both Republicans & Democratic Party leaders worked to craft the 5th into a space that favored Congressman Cleaver. 

Like it or not, compared to the lunatics in STL, KC's Congressman Cleaver is moderate. He's also a faith leader and part of the legacy Black ministers dating back to iconic civil rights leaders like MLK.  

But time moves on . . . And, clearly, the politics of this nation has changed. 

Agree or disagree about Missouri redistricting, our perspective is that Congressman Cleaver and his district in Kansas City once represented bipartisan respect for the legacy of the Civil Rights movement and now that priority has clearly changed for the majority of Republicans while hard-line Democratic Party leaders want their supporters to believe this fight over district lines is every bit as important as American anti-discrimination legislation in 1964.

Consider: American law is now evolving and the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision debunks a great deal of what we understand regarding the legality of "race-based" decisions in everything from college admissions to so-called DEI rules for employment.

Again, laws change and WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE even if political rhetoric is slow to adapt.  

Meanwhile . . . 

This week faith leaders took a page from a movement that is now more than 60-years-old and, tragically, forgotten by many in urban communities . . . Here's what ministers had to say . . . 

"Attendees at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City criticized efforts by Missouri Republicans to carve up the 5th Congressional district, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. They said such a move silences Black and brown voices in the political process."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Missouri's redistricting fight draws rebuke from local, national faith leaders

National Baptist leaders in Kansas City oppose Missouri's new congressional map, citing racial disenfranchisement and a possible lawsuit.

National Baptist Convention denounces Missouri gerrymander: 'The people matter'

Attendees at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City criticized efforts by Missouri Republicans to carve up the 5th Congressional district, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. They said such a move silences Black and brown voices in the political process.

Developing . . .