i took a deep dive into a hate crime ordinance Justice Horn passed with Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ commission at the top of 2024. though heralded as a bold step against LGBTQ+ hate, Justice Horn and City Council reinvested in our criminal legal system and prison industrial complex by passing Ordinance 231032: a new hate crime sentence enhancement.

after publishing this article, i gave a presentation to a local grassroots organization about the ordinance and how to stay vigilant about these things in the future.

Justice Horn resigned from their position at City Council a few weeks later.

“Horn and Kansas City Council’s faith in the criminal legal system and prison industrial complex as proponents of justice for marginalized communities is flawed and dangerous. .”

NASIR ANTHONY MONTALVO, THE KANSAS CITY DEFENDER