NAACP MISSOURI CIVIL RIGHTS TRAVEL ADVISORY RECOGNIZED

2017

WHEREAS, the NAACP was founded to address violence arising from and growing out of existing racial and ethnic disparities; and

WHEREAS, Missouri has a long history of racial discrimination and harassment that has been both violent and dehumanizing; and

WHEREAS, Missouri was founded as state where slavery was legalized as part of the Missouri Compromise; and

WHEREAS, the Dread Scott case where the state of Missouri legally declared that African­ Americans were less than human and not worthy of citizenship; and

WHEREAS, Missouri legislated segregation Including at and through the University of Missouri system; and '

WHEREAS, Missouri fosters racial and ethnic disparities In Education, Health, Economic Empowerment, and Criminal Justice; and

WHEREAS, Tory Sanford recently, suspiciously died in a jail cell in Mississippi City In Charleston County but was, however, never officially arrested after running out of gas when he became lost and traveled Into the state accidently. The completed autopsy report has yet to be released by Charleston County; and

WHEREAS, Racist attacks have occurred on students of color at the University of Missouri campus In Columbia - as the University of Missouri System has endorsed easing restrictions on civil rights protections for a decade and testified in favor of Senator Gary Romine's Jim Crow Bill, SB43, which eliminates legal accountability for those who commit racist acts while working for a business or Institution; and

WHEREAS, Missouri's legislature Representative Rick Brattin argued on the floor of the State House that homosexuals are not human beings according to his faith; and

WHEREAS, Black high school students in St. Louis have been attacked with hot glue while being denigrated racially; and

WHEREAS, Two internationally born men were gunned down outside Kansas City, Missouri after their killer mistakenly thought them to be Muslim; and

WHEREAS, According to the Missouri Attorney General, African Americans In Missouri are subjected to excessive traffic stops in violation of equal protections enshrined by the Constitution - African Americans are 75 per cent more likely to be stopped and searched based on skin color than Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, Public threats of shooting 'Blacks' have terrorized people of color at the University of Missouri where students and members of the public were placed in fear; and

WHEREAS, Individuals traveling in the state are advised to travel with extreme caution and that they may not be safe in conjunction with Governor Eric Greitens' signing of Missouri Senate Bill 43 (SB 43); and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 43 legalizes individual discrimination and harassment in Missouri and prevents Individuals from protecting themselves from discrimination through civil courts; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. State Department issues travel advisories to the American people when regions of the world become dangerous to U.S. travelers.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP through our state and local units shall warn people of the dangers of travel through the State of Missouri and nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP issues a travel advisory to members of protective classes Including: people of color, women, seniors, the LGBT community, those with disabilities or those perceived to have disabilities, and religious minorities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls upon all of Its units to share this advisory with their members, coalition partners, and communities.