Missouri state Rep. Kevin Windham speaks to reporters during a press conference Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in the House Lounge of the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Missouri Legislative Black Caucus members accused the state's House Republican leaders of racism for cutting off a House floor speech by Windham and halting debate on crime legislation that passed Thursday. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Racial tensions in Mississippi echoed in Missouri Thursday, as Black Democratic lawmakers accused the state's Republican House leadership of racism for shutting down a Black lawmaker's speech and passing a bill that could strip power from the Black woman elected as prosecutor in St. Louis.