July 22, 2020

By Marshanna C. Smith

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. today has issued a veto of Ordinance 5374.

Last week, the County Legislature voted 7-2 in favor of the Ordinance, which proposes a question to voters on the November general election ballot authorizing the removal of Andrew Jackson statues located at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence.

“I am hopeful that the passage of time has provided an opportunity for members of our Legislature to reflect on their vote and act differently,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “However, I am vetoing this Ordinance, not just in the hopes that Legislators will reconsider their position, but also to allow them the individual opportunity to take a clear position and directly tell the residents of our community if they believe the statues should be taken down or not. Additionally, I would like to commend the courageous actions of Legislators Jalen Anderson and Ron Finley, the two dissenting votes of the Ordinance, who have passionately voiced their commitment to fairness, justice and equality in Jackson County.”

Since the County Executive’s call for removal of the two statues on June 25, leaders across the country have taken swift action to acknowledge and immediately remove hurtful images of the past, including the State of Mississippi, the NFL team in Washington, D.C. and NASCAR. The demand for change is in response to the tragic murder of George Floyd, which reignited dialogue about the nation’s legacy of racism and oppression, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement.