Racism

The Missouri Equity Education Partnership, the St. Charles County NAACP and other groups say the Francis Howell School District needs to address a longstanding pattern of racism and enact new policies and procedures.

Interim Superintendent Mark Delaney said in an email to families on Wednesday that school officials conducted an investigation in partnership with police and found evidence that a district custodian is responsible for the graffiti.

Francis Howell High School Principal Dave Wedlock said in an email to families that the graffiti found in school restrooms was quickly removed after a student reported it to administrators.

The officer whose testimony led to Kurtis Watkins' 25 year sentence had a history of racist social media posts and a mistaken identification of another Black man that led to his death in custody.

Across the nation, Black people have received racist text messages saying they have been “selected to pick cotton.” Black St. Louisans are furious about the texts, including St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, whose son received one.

The St. Louis Reparations Commission will present its harm report on Sept. 30. Over 100 Black St. Louisans testified why they want reparations and what form they want them to take. The harm report will include dozens of testimonies, history of racism and recommendations for the mayor to bring about a plan to repair racial harms.

The NAACP plans to call attention to various cases of racial discrimination and intimidation across the St. Louis region in a billboard campaign, set to kick off in July.

In addition to ending its contract with St. Louis Public Schools, Missouri Central Bus Co. will close two city locations — terminating more than 300 full- and part-time workers.

St. Louis Public Schools' bus drivers called off en masse Monday and Tuesday after a noose was found last week near a worker's desk at Missouri Central Bus. Some drivers say its an attempt to keep them from speaking out against poor working conditions.

Keyon Harrold mixes jazz, hip-hop and R&B on this third solo album. The Ferguson-born trumpeter’s new songs reflect his quest for inner peace.