NEWS
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From the Office of
Representative Steven Roberts
77th District
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Aug. 4, 2017
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CONTACT: Ly Syin Lobster
573-751-1400
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Members of the Legislative Black Caucus
and Community
Faith Leaders Rally against Missouri’s “Jim
Crow” Legislation
ST. LOUIS – State
Rep. Steven Roberts has joined with his colleagues in the Legislative Black
Caucus and community faith leaders to strongly oppose a new law signed by the
governor that makes discrimination in the workplace much harder to prove.
A recent travel ban issued by the NAACP brought national
attention to the issue and warned travelers that they could be subject to
“discrimination and harassment” in Missouri. Roberts and his colleagues said
the “Jim Crow” bill sets Missouri back and breaks the promise made by the
governor to address issues important to the black community.
“Right after the governor won his election he met with the
Black Caucus and invited us to a welcoming reception. I was optimistic about
developing a relationship with the governor,” said State Rep. Alan Green, D-Florissant,
who chairs the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus. “Subsequently, on several
occasions I attempted to meet with the governor and was ignored. In fact, since
the reception photo, he has yet to meet with me or the Black Caucus. I can’t
say I was surprised that he decided to sign this Jim Crow bill, but I was
certainly disappointed.”
The legislation signed by the governor, SB 43, would force
victims of alleged discrimination to prove that race or religion or gender was
the motivating factor to the discrimination, which Roberts and his colleagues
say is extremely hard to do. Missouri’s current standard only requires proof
that race, religion and gender are a contribution factor.
Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, Senior
Pastor, Quinn Chapel AME Church, Jefferson City and serves as the Executive
Director of Missouri Faith Voices, a federation of PICO National Network, said, “
The Governor signing
what amounts to a Jim Crow Bill into law is an effort to make the barriers to
achieving justice so high as to legalize discrimination in the State of
Missouri. When Governor Greitens was campaigning for Governor, he met with
faith leaders and promised to address issues facing the black community. After
his victory, we were abandoned in favor of his deep pockets donors.”
She added, “On his first day in
office, I prayed with him and his staff and asked him not to use words from the
sacred text if he didn't mean them. We prayed over him when he came in and we
will pray and vote him out."
Roberts said that while the governor has an impressive
resume, it’s now obvious he is more concerned with his own image rather than
helping Missourians in need. He said the governor has failed to protect the
interests of those who are the targets of discrimination, and made an inadequate
effort to address the growing crime problems in St. Louis.
“I have a great deal of respect for our governor’s service
to our nation as a veteran; however, it is readily apparent that he is more
interested in photo opportunities for his social media profiles than developing
a relationship with the elected officials living in what he calls the ‘most
dangerous [city] in the United States.’,” said Roberts, D-St. Louis, who serves
as ranking minority party member of workforce development and treasurer of the
Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.
He added, “If the governor really wanted to help, he would
ask the chief prosecutor of the city, Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner, what
tools she needs to succeed and provide them. The signing of this Jim Crow bill
will become part of his legacy.”
House Minority Leader Gail McCann
Beatty, D-Kansas City, previously stated that, “By signing Senate Bill 43 into
law, Gov. Eric Greitens has reversed decades of civil right progress in
Missouri and relegated minorities to the status of second-class citizens. With
the Missouri Human Rights Act gutted, employers who want to engage in illegal
workplace discrimination will have no fear of being held accountable. While SB
43 might not quite return us to the days when businesses were free to hang
“minorities need not apply” signs in the window, it certainly reinforces the
sentiment.”
For more information, contact Ly Syin Lobster at 573-751-1400.
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