FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 25, 2025

Contact: Nimrod T. Chapel, Jr. 816-309-5009

Missouri State Conference of the NAACP

www.monaacp.org

KANSAS CITY, MO — The Missouri State Conference of the NAACP condemns the unannounced invasion of the National World War I Memorial by more than 100 masked white nationalists affiliated with Patriot Front on Saturday, May 24. Arriving in the back of several U-Haul trucks and marching in formation with flags and covered faces, their presence was not only threatening but a desecration of a public monument honoring Americans who died fighting tyranny.

“This act was a calculated show of force meant to intimidate,” said Nimrod Chapel, Jr., President of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP. “And when hate parades down the steps of a sacred memorial and elected and unelected public servants charged with protecting the peace of our community fail to stand up immediately to condemn it by name, the silence speaks volumes. Good people cannot condone hate by sitting on the sidelines. Sideliners are participants—whether they like it or not.”

The Missouri NAACP calls on the public to stay vigilant and informed. Visit www.monaacp.org for updates on civil rights actions, public safety responses, and community organizing efforts. Report hate to the F.B.I. 816-512-8200.

“We are meeting with federal and state law enforcement who protect our civil rights” said Chapel “if 100 masked men shouting hate are coming to your town - everyone should be aware and ready.”

We urge every Missourian to join civil rights and faith-based organizations that promote dignity, equality, and community healing—whether it’s the NAACP, your local church, synagogue, mosque, or civic alliance. This moment demands more than discomfort. It demands action.

CALL TO ACTION: Join us in the fight for justice on Missouri’s roads. Join and donate to the www.monaacp.org to support our legal and advocacy work against hate. Every dollar helps shine a light on injustice and hold power to account.