MO NAACP Travel Advisory

Nimrod Chapel, Jr. • September 23, 2023

Until the culture of death changes, we will remain vigilant!

Recently I was asked why the travel advisory we issued in conjunction with the National NAACP in 2017 is still in effect. More to the point, I was asked what we as an organization would need to see before we would withdraw the advisory. It’s a fair question. The real answer is a change in the culture of death that surrounds Missouri. I know that is a goal that we won’t reach tomorrow, but here are some of the specifics of why I think the travel advisory is still important.


Ralph Yarl was shot for innocently knocking on the wrong door while picking up his siblings. The prosecutor and judge have allowed the shooter to return to his home and, while charges have been filed, have refused to include a count calling it at hate crime. Marcellus Williams is sitting on death row with a credible claim of innocence. In 2017, then Governor Grietens put a stay on the execution and began a board of inquiry. The board moved slowly, or not at all, between 2017 and 2023. In 2023 Governor Parson removed the stay and dissolved the board of inquiry. 


The CROWN Act would prevent discrimination in education and the workplace for wearing protective hairstyles that are historically associated with black and brown people. This legislation is consistently blocked by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and other business and education groups who claim it would result in lawsuits against them. What they are really saying is they don’t want to be held accountable for requiring black and brown folks to assimilate to white culture.


The “Shoot First” bill would prohibit the arrest of any person who has killed someone until law enforcement can prove it was not self defense. This flips the law on its head. Not only that, but recent events in Missouri prove that this benefit of the doubt will only be given to white shooters while a black person who may be trying to protect themselves will still be subjected to immediate arrest without bail.


What we need to see in order to withdraw the travel advisory is prosecutors who investigate and prosecute the deaths of young black men with the same fervor as they do the deaths of young white women. Communities that don’t see a black man washing his car at a public car wash as a threat. Police forces that listen to black women when they report abductions and abuse. These are things that would make it safe for black folks to travel throughout our State safely and make their homes here with confidence. 


What we are doing to try to reach that goal is meeting with legislators, registering people to vote, and educating voters on the importance of voting in local elections. Elected prosecutors should be held accountable by those of us who elect them. We will be creating a prosecutor voters guide and score card for our local units to use in the upcoming elections. Meetings with elected leaders on all levels happen regularly. Unfortunately, many of those leaders say the right thing then do nothing to make a change. 


We need to keep the pressure and visibility up on the daily atrocities across Missouri. You can help us do that by emailing us at mostatepresident@gmail.com when something happens in your area. You are on the front lines of the fight for human dignity. 

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By President Nimrod Chapel, Jr. • February 13, 2025
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If you are a business that should be listed - contact the NAACP at info@monaacp.org so people can more easily find you. Everyone can still win. Outcome: Keeping money in our community fosters local prosperity and reduces reliance on imported goods burdened by tariffs. 2. Boost Financial Literacy and Savings Recommendation: Enhance your financial skills by learning budgeting, saving, and investment strategies. Money is already too tight, the rent is high and Ameren is raising your bill by 15%. Community Support: The NAACP is set to announce partnerships with leading banks and financial institutions to provide financial literacy workshops and expert advice. Details and schedules for these workshops will soon be available on the NAACP website. Payday and title loans are sucking the life out of our communities, but we have alternatives. 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Outcome: Active civic engagement helps shape policies that protect our interests and promotes community-driven solutions. 5. Invest in Skill Development and Education Recommendation: Enhance your job skills through local training programs and educational opportunities to secure better employment prospects. You may need those skills to improve your prospects or help you move to a state that is prosperous and supportive to you and yours. Community Support: We are collaborating with institutions like Lincoln University, Harris Stowe, and other universities with a long history of promoting educational equity. These partnerships aim to support ongoing learning, even as some state institutions like the University of Missouri and Missouri State University scale back their commitments to inclusion and equity. 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