Sign that says "Future Home of the Divine Gardens."

Vandalism discovered on UMKC’s monuments for Black fraternities and sororities

Marisa Thlocco and Lilah Manning • March 11, 2025

On Feb. 25, UMKC Black fraternity and sorority members were notified via email about vandalism on several monuments in the Divine Nine Garden. The...

A photo of Mardi Gras themed accessories with “MARDI GRAS 2025!!” drawn on hand.

Mardi Gras 2025: Celebrating New Orleans in Kansas City fashion

Madelyn Riffee, Staff Writer • March 4, 2025

With beads flying, colorful decor, and jazz music filling the air, the city’s annual celebration of Mardi Gras is drawing crowds to...

Trump reinstates single-use plastics, overturning Biden-era straw ban

Lilah Manning, Intern • March 2, 2025

UMKC students are not a fan of President Trump’s recent executive order to ban the use of paper straws and other single-use plastics. The...

Senior accounting major Lily Hay shows off the UMKC and Royals co-branded jersey from 2023 UMKC Night at The K.

The Royals begin Spring training but are UMKC students catching the action?

Jazmin Romo, Staff Writer • March 1, 2025

The Kansas City Royals had their first spring training game on Friday against the Texas Rangers and UMKC students are eager to see the team...

A employee at the Starbucks in the Student Union hands out a food item to a customer.

Minimum wage increases in Missouri, but not much will change for UMKC student employees

Kowthar Shire and Morgan Patterson • February 26, 2025

Although a minimum wage increase took effect in Missouri on Jan. 1, UMKC can continue to pay student employees less than minimum wage. As...

Vandalism discovered on UMKC’s monuments for Black fraternities and sororities

Marisa Thlocco and Lilah Manning • March 11, 2025

On Feb. 25, UMKC Black fraternity and sorority members were notified via email about vandalism on several monuments in the Divine Nine Garden. The...

Mardi Gras 2025: Celebrating New Orleans in Kansas City fashion

Madelyn Riffee, Staff Writer • March 4, 2025

With beads flying, colorful decor, and jazz music filling the air, the city’s annual celebration of Mardi Gras is drawing crowds to...

Trump reinstates single-use plastics, overturning Biden-era straw ban

Lilah Manning, Intern • March 2, 2025

UMKC students are not a fan of President Trump’s recent executive order to ban the use of paper straws and other single-use plastics. The...

The Royals begin Spring training but are UMKC students catching the action?

Jazmin Romo, Staff Writer • March 1, 2025

The Kansas City Royals had their first spring training game on Friday against the Texas Rangers and UMKC students are eager to see the team...

Minimum wage increases in Missouri, but not much will change for UMKC student employees

Kowthar Shire and Morgan Patterson • February 26, 2025

Although a minimum wage increase took effect in Missouri on Jan. 1, UMKC can continue to pay student employees less than minimum wage. As...

Photo Essay: Scenes from the Kansas City Hall Plaza occupation

Gabrial Nell

October 5, 2020

Protesters taped signs onto a statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of City Hall. Multiple signs call for KCPD Police Chief Rick Smith’s resignation, reading, “CHIEF SMITH HAS GOT TO GO!” and “REMOVE CHIEF SMITH.”

Pictured is one of the official witnesses at the occupation, who are brought to be legal observers of the events.

Protesters set up tents, preparing for the rain that came late on Friday night. Protest leaders organized sleeping shifts for the demonstrators, so that there were always people keeping watch.

Protest organizers provided food, water and other beverages for the protesters. Medical professionals and security also attended the occupation to assist and help keep protesters safe.

At the base of the Lincoln statue, the names and photos of people who were killed by police fill poster boards. Other signs at the base of the statue read “KCPD IS GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES” and show the KCPD logo with “KILLER COPS WANTED FOR MURDER” written adjacent to it.

Individuals participating in the demonstration are spaced out on the City Hall Plaza, keeping in line with social distancing measures. Speakers played music throughout the day, but were turned off due to some protesters’ fears that the police would use the noise as a reason to break up the protest.

Attorney and local organizer and activist Stacy Shaw played an instrumental role in organizing the occupation. Shaw attended and organized protests throughout the summer and has been arrested twice during protests.

gjn96p@mail.umkc.edu

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