National Baptist Convention Condemns missouri Congressional Map as Voter Suppression
KANSAS CITY, MO – September 9, 2025 – The National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., representing 31,000 churches and millions of members, has sharply denounced a proposed congressional map in Missouri, labeling it an unconstitutional gerrymander designed to silence Black and Latino communities. The condemnation comes as Republican lawmakers attempt to redraw the state’s congressional districts, a move critics say prioritizes political power over the will of the voters.
The proposed map would split Kansas City along troost Avenue, a historically significant racial and economic dividing line, and fracture the diverse Historic Northeast neighborhood – home to Black and brown immigrants and refugees – across the 4th, 5th, and 6th districts. Opponents argue this deliberate fracturing dilutes the political strength of minority voters and represents a broader effort to suppress democratic participation.
“What we see now are politicians attempting to pick their voters, rather than voters picking their politicians,” said Linden Bowie, president of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri.
Edgar palacios, founder of Revolución Educativa, connected the redistricting efforts to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing federal agents to continue carrying out Trump’s immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, which permits stops and detentions based on race, language, and occupation. “The Supreme Court ruling and Missouri’s gerrymander shared the same purpose: to weaken democracy by targeting communities of color,” Palacios stated. “One attacks our bodies, the other attacks our ballots. Together, they tell a perilous story that Black and brown lives are expendable and that Black and brown voices are optional.”
In response, the National Baptist Convention is mobilizing its member churches to increase voter registration and participation ahead of next year’s midterm elections. “We say vote like your life depends on it,” said Rev. Jerome Bullock. “Guess what? It does.” A lawsuit filed by the NAACP alleges the proposed map is an unconstitutional gerrymander.
