Rev. Cleaver III Calls for New Civil Rights Movement Amid Redistricting Controversy

Mon Oct 20 2025 22:20:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a bold call to action, Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III advocates for a second Civil Rights Movement to counter partisan redistricting efforts impacting Black representation in Missouri. As concerns grow over potential losses in congressional representation and federal funding, community voices unite against gerrymandering tactics.

Amid ongoing redistricting efforts in Missouri and Texas, Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III is urging a new Civil Rights Movement to address concerns that these changes threaten Black representation and the gains made over the past generations. Advocacy groups like the NAACP have taken legal action against these plans, claiming they are racially motivated and serve to disenfranchise minority communities. As local residents express deep fears about losing representation and vital resources, the situation reflects a broader struggle over civil rights in America.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III wants a second Civil Rights Movement in response to President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans who are redrawing congressional district boundaries to increase their power in Washington. In Missouri, the GOP’s effort comes at the expense of Cleaver’s father, Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and many of his Kansas City constituents who fear a national redistricting scramble will reverse gains Black Americans won two generations ago and leave them without effective representation on Capitol Hill.

“If we, the people of faith, do not step up, we are going to go back even further,” the younger Cleaver said during a service at St. James Church, echoing sentiments of many in the community. Republican-driven gerrymandering tactics like 'packing' and 'cracking' target minority voters to dilute their electoral power.

As the new maps proposed in Texas and Missouri gain traction, civil rights advocates warn that the changes threaten to exacerbate racial inequities in representation. The NAACP and other organizations are mounting legal battles, asserting that the redistricting efforts are rooted in racial bias and violate voting rights.

Community members voice concerns that their neighborhoods will be split and that the losses in representation could lead to cuts in essential federal funding for infrastructure, education, and healthcare. This situation reflects a larger, ongoing struggle for civil rights and representation as the nation approaches the next election cycle.