SE Kansas City News

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who has represented Missouri’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress since 2005, marked the anniversary of a key civil rights event and called for action on gun violence and mental health funding in a series of posts on August 28, 2025.

In his first post commemorating the March on Washington, Cleaver stated: "Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington. As we honor the legacies of the civil rights leaders who led this march toward a more just America, let us continue their work by standing up and speaking out against those who would undermine our civil liberties and https://t.co/YVMnm609Hr" (August 28, 2025).

Later that day, Cleaver addressed concerns about gun violence affecting children in schools and places of worship: "Children in America should be free to go to school and church without having to worry about being shot in the classroom or a church pew. There are common sense steps we can take to keep our kids safe—but we must have the courage to ACT! https://t.co/uwBNNgb63n" (August 28, 2025).

In another post published moments later, he criticized recent decisions regarding federal program funding: "Moreover, instead of supporting short-sighted cuts to mental health programs and DOJ programs that help to reduce gun violence, as the Trump administration has done this year, Republicans in Congress should expand these programs to help save lives." (August 28, 2025).

Cleaver was born in Waxahachie, Texas in 1944 and currently resides in Kansas City. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972. Before joining Congress following Karen McCarthy's tenure, he built his career as an advocate for social justice issues.