This Is St. Louis

Or not!

Of what this is indicative, I can’t say, but this story struck me as simultaneously amusing, sad, and perhaps even racist. The story comes from The St. Louis American:[emphasis added to quotes]

Published continuously, without missing a single issue, since 1928, The St. Louis American newspaper has emerged as the leading, most-trusted voice of the area’s African-American community. 

Headlined: “A vaccination could save your life, and reduce fines.”

The city of St. Louis, the city’s municipal court and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office have announced that they are co-sponsoring “Warrant Forgiveness Days” later this month, and city officials are adding an additional incentive.

COVID-19 vaccines will be offered on site and proof of full vaccination could mean $100 off court costs or existing fines for Municipal Court cases. …

City officials estimate there are roughly 140,000 warrants eligible for participation in the program, with the vast majority (138,000) able to take advantage of the Municipal Court full vaccination incentive. …

Participants should bring a valid photo ID, phone, and provide a valid email address, if they have one. Participating individuals will not be subject to arrest at these events. …

You don’t need a photo ID to vote in Democrat-run St. Louis, but you sure do need one to get vaccinated or qualify for warrant forgiveness or vaccination incentives.

This program was lauded by the (black) mayor and “co-sponsored” by the (infamous, black, Soros-supported) circuit attorney, both of whom, in the course of their public service, almost exclusively focus upon the black community. Warrant forgiveness programs are part of the criminal justice reforms demanded by many black politicians and progressive groups like BLM.

Note that these programs in St. Louis were pitched first in the city’s black newspaper. Said the mayor:

These events will help participants get right with the law and get right with their health. We have to work together to protect public health and public safety, and I’m grateful to the courts for their leadership on this issue.

Politicians across the country are challenged to get the vaccine hesitant vaccinated. To do so, they’ve come up with a variety of incentives, such as lotteries or gift cards. Of particular interest to those concerned with “vaccine hesitancy” is the lack of response among the black community. In St. Louis, there’s a much higher rate of vaccine hesitancy among blacks than among whites.

One can only imagine the reaction of the woke crowd had this particular vaccination incentive been created by the white governor of Missouri or the white former mayor of St. Louis and then publicized first in a black newspaper:

Hey folks! Come get your warrants forgiven, get vaccinated, and we’ll knock 100 bucks off your fines and court costs.

We’re used to the soft bigotry of low expectations coming from white progressives, but black ones, too?

Oy!

I’m (nearly) speechless.

Another story invites more head shaking:

A suspect is in custody after police say he stole a car in Kansas City and drove it across the state, knowing he needed to make a court date in St. Louis on Thursday.

The unnamed man was taken into custody after a nearly 60-mile police chase that began in Wentzville, Missouri and ended in Troy, Illinois. The chase began when a license plate reader in Wentzville caught the car and police were alerted.

He must have already been vaccinated and so couldn’t have expected to get warrant forgiveness or a break on his fines. Whatever.

Anyway …

Have a great weekend!

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