Ellington Tried Cop Camera Again December 1, 2015

Kansas City St Rep Brandon Ellington is trying to get his body camera for police officers passed again.
Ellington re-filed his bill on the first day bills could be filed for the 2016 session.
” Mandatory body cameras will protect the public by discouraging bad behavior by police and providing evidence when it does occur. But cameras also will protect police against false claims, Ellington said in a news release.
In the bill, officers would not have to wear the cameras on undercover operations.

Ellington Says MU Administration Too Slow to React November 9, 2015

Here is the statement from Kansas City State Rep. Brandon Ellington, the Chair of the Black Caucus in the Legislature:
“The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus stands in solidarity with University of Missouri students in demanding long overdue action to address racial bias on campus, and we are disheartened that administrators were slow in treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves. The resignation of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe demonstrates that leaders who ignore injustice or cling to the status quo do so at their own peril.

“We can no longer allow institutionalized racism to endure anywhere in Missouri. It is the solemn duty of everyone in a position of authority to identify and eradicate racial injustice.

Ellington Blasts Hoise Colleague for Honoring Confederate RMY June 22, 2015

The head of the Missouri house black Caucus, brandon Ellington of kansas City, says it seems as if another colleague was ‘co-signing what happened in South Carolina, by honoring the flag that represents keeping people in slavery.
Ellington criticized St. Rep Chuck Basye, a Republican from Rocheport in mid-Missouri.
Ellington accused Basye of taking art in a “misguided ceremony to lift up treasonous Confederate guerrillas and even saluted the confederate flag”.
Basye told The Missouri Times it was “ridiculous and “offensive” to say he was saluting the Confederate flag.
Basye said he participated in a Civil war re-enactment event last weekend. It centered around the dedication of a gravestone for five Missouri guerrilla rebels who were killed near Rocheport in 1865.
The ceremony took place at the Basye family cemetery, property owned by St. Representative Basye’s bother.
Ellington says the event, involving an elected official looks bad coming days after the racially motivated killings of nine black people in South Carolina last week.
“Then you turn around and have a State Representative honor fallen soldiers and a flag that represented slavery. So, on face value it looks like you’re co-signing what happened in South Carolina by honoring the flag that represents keeping people in slavery, Ellington said.

Ellington Blasts House Colleague for Honoring Confederate Army June 22, 2015

The head of the Missouri house black Caucus, brandon Ellington of kansas City, says it seems as if another colleague was ‘co-signing what happened in South Carolina, by honoring the flag that represents keeping people in slavery.
Ellington criticized St. Rep Chuck Basye, a Republican from Rocheport in mid-Missouri.
Ellington accused Basye of taking art in a “misguided ceremony to lift up treasonous Confederate guerrillas and even saluted the confederate flag”.
Basye told The Missouri Times it was “ridiculous and “offensive” to say he was saluting the Confederate flag.
Basye said he participated in a Civil war re-enactment event last weekend. It centered around the dedication of a gravestone for five Missouri guerrilla rebels who were killed near Rocheport in 1865.
The ceremony took place at the Basye family cemetery, property owned by St. Representative Basye’s bother.
Ellington says the event, involving an elected official looks bad coming days after the racially motivated killings of nine black people in South Carolina last week.
“Then you turn around and have a State Representative honor fallen soldiers and a flag that represented slavery. So, on face value it looks like you’re co-signing what happened in South Carolina by honoring the flag that represents keeping people in slavery, Ellington said.

Nasheed Steps Down from Mo. Black Caucus Chair, KC’s Ellington May Replace Her January 10, 2014

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Democratic chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, of St. Louis, said
Friday she decided to step down because of tension in the group about her appearance with the state’s Republican lieutenant governor.

The caucus’s vice-chairman, Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, will take over her duties until the 16-member group elects a successor, Nasheed said.

Ellington declined to comment on his status with the caucus or Nasheed’s resignation.

Sen. Nasheed,, and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder spoke together at a news conference in December.

The two were denouncing an informal deal to delay about $14 million in low-income housing tax credits to secure the Legislature’s passage of a $1.7 billion incentive package for Boeing.

“If anyone is willing to stand up on behalf of the indigent and the poor, then I will stand by you, side by side,” Nasheed said about appearing with Kinder.

Kinder was the only member of the state commission responsible for authorizing the credits to vote against the delay, which will last at least until March 13. The delay in tax credits awarded to low-income housing developers affects 32 developments that would have housed 1,654 units.

Nasheed said she resigned so the caucus could be unified this year in opposing Republican priorities, such as requiring photo identification at polling places and legislation to bar the payment of union fees as a condition of employment.

Nasheed became chairman of the caucus in 2013 following her election to the state Senate. She previously served six years in the House.