NAACP issues ...travel advisory: Civil rights group warns African Americans not to go to Missouri because black people are 75% more likely to be stopped than whites The advisory warns: "Individuals traveling in the State are advised to travel with extreme CAUTION,' 'Race, gender and color based crimes have a long history in Missouri.' The issuance of the advisory is twofold: a recent Senate Bill was passed in the State making it more difficult to sue over discrimination in the workplace, as well as the high percentages of African Americans being stopped by police. Derrick Johnson, interim president of the NAACP says in the travel warning: 'the fact that African Americans in Missouri are 75 per cent more likely to be stopped and searched by law enforcement officers than Caucasians, are unconscionable, and are simply unacceptable in a progressive society.' 'We share the alarm and concern that black individuals enjoying the highways, roads and points of interest there may not be safe, and the national office will also be closely monitoring the progress of Governor Greitien's review of Bill SB 43,' Johnson adds. The bill, which was recently passed into law by Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, makes it harder for people to sue former employers over discrimination and puts a cap on punitive damages a victim can be awarded in discrimination and harassment lawsuits. 'This does not follow the morals of Missouri,' Conference President Rod Chapel Jr. told CNN. 'I hate to see Missouri get dragged down deep past the notion of treating people with dignity.' 'People should tell their relatives if they have to travel through the State, they need to be aware,' Chapel said. 'They should have bail money, you never know.'
