Kansas City’s City Council yesterday in a 9-2 vote, elected to drop
charges against non-violent offenders who were arrested during the first weekend of protests on the Country Club Plaza and Mill Creek Park.
The ordinance, introduced by 3rd District Councilman Brandon Ellington prohibits the court from beginning or continuing proceedings against roughly 150 people who were arrested during the protests between May 29th through June 2nd. The protests followed the killing of George Floyd
during an arrest by Minneapolis, Minnesota Police.

1st District Councilwoman Heather Hall and 2nd District Councilwoman
Teresa Loar both voted against the ordinance. 2nd District Councilman
Dan Fowler and 4th District At-Large Councilwoman Katheryn Shields did not vote on the issue.
Earlier this week Shields refused to put her signature on a letter to
the Police Department thanking them for their efforts during the
protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also during yesterday’s Council session, Kansas City Mayor Quinton
Lucas along with the four Council people from the 3rd and 5th districts
introduced an ordinance to remove possession or control of marijuana as a violation of the City Code of Ordinances. The ordinance will be heard by the Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee next week.