FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tosombra Adecia, Community Connections Chair Pulaski County NAACP | pulaskicountynaacp@gmail.com

St. Robert, MO — The Pulaski County NAACP is calling on all Missourians who care about justice, equity, and democracy to take action now to stop the slide toward authoritarian rule. Two citizen-led petitions-Respect Missouri Voters and People Not Politicians-are circulating across the state, offering a direct way for residents to defend their right to fair representation and protect the integrity of the democratic process.

At the recent NAACP Advocacy & Voter Education Night, Yvonne Reeves-Chong, Vice Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party, delivered a stirring and urgent message about the fight for racial equity and voting rights in Missouri. She drew sharp attention to the contradictions in recent Supreme Court rulings that, in her words, “bar race from opening the doors to opportunity, yet allow it to open the doors to prison and lock them behind us.”

Reeves-Chong warned that these developments, combined with the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act and the gerrymandering of historically Black districts, signal a dangerous return to policies reminiscent of Jim Crow–era suppression.

“No one is coming to save us,” Reeves-Chong said. “Not Obama, not Malcolm, not Martin. The only person coming to save you is you. If we don’t move ourselves from complacency into action, we will lose the rights generations before us died to secure.”

Pulaski County NAACP President Cynthia Andry echoed that urgency:

“We are standing in a moment that requires both courage and clarity,” Andry said. “Our ancestors fought too hard for us to sit in silence. This is about making sure every Missourian’s voice—and every vote—truly counts. Together, we will rise, organize, and protect what’s ours.”

Take Action Now

● Verify or update your voter registration: www.sos.mo.gov

● Sign the petitions: Respect Missouri Voters and People Not Politicians

● Join the training: Signature Gathering Session, Sunday at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom

● Stay informed: Follow the Pulaski County NAACP on Facebook for advocacy updates.