The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued the organization’s first-ever travel advisory for the entire state of Missouri. Missouri’s NAACP Conference originally published the travel advisory in June, 2017. Additionally, it was adopted nationally at the NAACP Annual Convention in July, 2017; and, it is still in effect. The Travel Advisory calls for African American travelers, visitors, and Missourians to be notably alert, and to exercise extreme caution when spending time in Missouri, as well as when traveling throughout Missouri. “Individuals traveling in the state are advised to travel with extreme CAUTION. Race, gender and color based crimes have a long history in Missouri,” the advisory states. “People should tell their relatives if they have to travel through the state, they need to be aware,” Rod Chapel, Jr., Missouri NAACP President, told CNN. “They should have bail money, you never know.” The NAACP is warning African Americans traveling through or to Missouri to do so at their own risk, due to a new state law that was signed by Governor Eric Greitens, Senate Bill 43, which makes it harder for employees to prove that their class, race or gender contributed to unlawful discrimination.

The warning was also sparked by a series of questionable, race-based incidents that recently occurred statewide that included the following: 1-Tory Sanford, died in a jail cell, but was never arrested after running out of gas when he traveled into the state accidently. 2-Racist attacks on University of Missouri students while on the states’ campuses – as the University of Missouri System spoke in favor of Senate Bill 43. 3-Two internationally born men gunned down outside in Kansas City after the killer thought them to be Muslim. 4-African American high school students in St. Louis were attacked with hot glue while denigrated racially. 5-Public threats of shooting African Americans that terrorized University of Missouri students and members of the public. 6-The Missouri Attorney General reported African Americans in Missouri are 75% more likely to be stopped and searched by law enforcement officers than Caucasians.

References:

“NAACP Issues Statewide Travel Advisory for Missouri.” https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impactng-travel/naccp-issues-statewide-travel-advisor

“Urgent – Missouri Travel Advisory.” Missouri State Conference Office. https://www.monaacp.org/urgent-missouri-travel-advisory