KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III is calling for a second Civil Rights Movement in response to aggressive congressional redistricting efforts by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party aimed at consolidating their political power. In Missouri, these changes threaten the constituencies of Cleaver's father, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and many fear that the moves could lead to a reversal of gains made by Black Americans in representation over the last two generations.
“If we, the people of faith, do not step up, we are going to go back even further,” Cleaver III warned during a sermon at St. James Church, where his father initiated his first congressional campaign in 2004. The push by Trump and Republicans to redraw district boundaries has been openly admitted as a strategic partisan maneuver, especially emboldened by a Supreme Court that has permitted gerrymandering based on party leanings.
Introduced plans in Missouri and Texas seek to significantly alter the political landscape, resulting in what advocates describe as race-based gerrymandering. With these new maps, Missouri could see a 7-1 advantage for Republicans, while in Texas, the redistricting could potentially remove several minority representatives from Congress.
Critics, including NAACP President Derrick Johnson, describe the situation as a ‘redistricting civil war,’ citing ongoing lawsuits aimed at blocking these partisan efforts. In Kansas City, residents express grave concerns that the maps could severely impact federal investments in vital services, with local voices like retired nurse Meredith Shellner predicting losses in education and healthcare access.
As the legislative battle unfolds, the pushback continues, underscoring the need for everyday citizens to engage in the political landscape to safeguard their representation and the progress made in civil rights.
“If we, the people of faith, do not step up, we are going to go back even further,” Cleaver III warned during a sermon at St. James Church, where his father initiated his first congressional campaign in 2004. The push by Trump and Republicans to redraw district boundaries has been openly admitted as a strategic partisan maneuver, especially emboldened by a Supreme Court that has permitted gerrymandering based on party leanings.
Introduced plans in Missouri and Texas seek to significantly alter the political landscape, resulting in what advocates describe as race-based gerrymandering. With these new maps, Missouri could see a 7-1 advantage for Republicans, while in Texas, the redistricting could potentially remove several minority representatives from Congress.
Critics, including NAACP President Derrick Johnson, describe the situation as a ‘redistricting civil war,’ citing ongoing lawsuits aimed at blocking these partisan efforts. In Kansas City, residents express grave concerns that the maps could severely impact federal investments in vital services, with local voices like retired nurse Meredith Shellner predicting losses in education and healthcare access.
As the legislative battle unfolds, the pushback continues, underscoring the need for everyday citizens to engage in the political landscape to safeguard their representation and the progress made in civil rights.
