National Archives – Page 2 of 4 – The Kansas City Defender

Elon Musk & DOGE Slash Funding for Major Black KC Neighborhood Councils

By Ryan S. ● Kansas City ● February 17, 2025

Elon Musk & DOGE are targeting one of Kansas City’s most prominent Black-led neighborhood councils—slashing a federal grant and threatening a vital food sovereignty movement.

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BREAKING: Missouri Governor Frees Eric DeValkenaere, the First White Cop in KC History Convicted for Lynching a Black Person

By KC Defender Staff ● Justice ● December 20, 2024

In a horrifying display of white descent into outright white supremacist, fascist totalitarianism, Governor Parson unleashes a convicted killer cop back onto our streets – proving once again that in America, a badge is a license to kill Black people with impunity.

Mass Death Looms: Florida Refuses to Evacuate Prisons & Jails Ahead of Hurricane Milton

By Ryan S. ● Climate ● October 9, 2024

As Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida, thousands of incarcerated individuals are left to face a death sentence. With no evacuation plan, Florida’s incarcerated are abandoned in the storm’s path.

KC Tenants Makes Monumental Statement with First-Ever Rent Strike

By Lynnie Holl ● Housing ● October 1, 2024

KC Tenants initiates a groundbreaking rent strike in protest of deplorable living conditions and demanding national rent caps.

Missouri’s Modern-Day Lynching: Marcellus Williams Advocates Speak Outside MO Supreme Court Appeal Hearing, Less Than 24 Hours Until Scheduled Execution

By Ryan S. ● Justice ● September 23, 2024

As the clock ticks toward the scheduled execution of Black faith leader Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams, advocates from across the nation rally outside the Missouri Supreme Court, fighting to stop the state-sanctioned murder of a man proven innocent.

The Diverging Paths of Cori Bush and Wesley Bell: Following the Money Trail to Missouri’s 1st Congressional District Race

By Lynnie Holl ● 2024 Elections ● July 26, 2024

The impending primary election in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District offers the voters of St. Louis a choice between a vocal advocate for the people and a prosecutor beholden to paid interests.

Right-Wing Accounts Launch Mark Violets Antifa Conspiracy in Light of Trump “Assassination Attempt”

By Ryan S. ● National ● July 13, 2024

In a dramatic turn of events at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, right-wing social media accounts are circulating unverified claims that the shooter, who they claim to be named Mark Violets, is linked to Antifa. Despite lacking credible evidence, these conspiracies are spreading rapidly in the wake of what officials are calling an “assassination attempt.” This moment will have profound and historic political implications.

Tyler Perry Halts $800 Million Studio Expansion Due to “Mind-Blowing AI Video Generation Tool,” Expects Massive Job Loss

By Ryan S. ● Internet & Culture ● February 24, 2024

Tyler Perry halts a massive studio expansion, spotlighting the harmful, labor-displacing potential of AI technology like OpenAI’s Sora. In a an unexpected move, Perry, a mega-capitalist, urges the entertainment industry to brace for a future where AI’s allure clashes with human livelihood.

Unbelievably Real-Looking AI Video Model Sparks Intense AI Ethics Debate

By Ryan S. ● Technology ● February 20, 2024

OpenAI’s latest model, Sora, transforms text into hyperrealistic videos, igniting a firestorm of debate over AI ethics, the protection of creative labor, and the potential for misuse in an already volatile digital landscape.

Community Outraged After Missouri Cops Murder Marquis Rivera & Leave Him Lying Outside for 6 Hours. No Charges Filed.

By Lynnie Holl ● Justice ● February 7, 2024

In a horrifying police encounter, 22-year old Marquis Rivera was murdered by Columbia, MO cops after they shot him and blew his kneecap out, shot him again in the heart, then left him bleeding out for 6 hours to die. This week, it was announced no charges will be filed, sparking widespread outrage as his family and community demand accountability.