Civil Rights

Missouri Attorney General candidates divided on key criminal justice reform

BY: - October 21, 2020

St. Louis-native Lamar Johnson has spent 26 years in prison praying that someone would hear his case. In August 2019, that day almost came. “I finally got taken back to St. Louis, and freedom is just right there,” Johnson said in a phone call with The Independent from Jefferson City Correctional Center. “And it was […]

Rev. Michelle Higgins speaks to canvassers

Groups work to energize Missouri’s Black voters in election’s final weeks

BY: - October 20, 2020

All summer and into the fall, the Rev. Michelle Higgins has set aside any thought of leisurely weekends with her family. Instead, she and her two children have been out knocking on doors. “My children’s weekend outings are canvassing and getting to know neighbors around our church building for a specific purpose — and that […]