The US National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) has taken the incredible step of warning minorities about travelling through Missouri. The NAACP says people of colour should exercise 'extreme caution' when visiting the Mideastern state because they can face 'discrimination and harrassment'.
It's in response to a recent bill that was recently signed into legislation by Republican Governor Eric Greitens. Before the rules were changed, a person was able to lodge a discrimination claim if things like race, religion or gender was a 'contributing factor', but now those complainants have to prove that it was the 'motivating factor'.
The bill also means that an employee is no longer able to sue an individual within the workplace for discrimination, meaning only the company, as a whole, can be named in a lawsuit.
Missouri man has shop sprayed with racial slurs. Credit: PA
The warning to coloured people reads: "Each individual should pay special attention while in the state of Missouri and certainly if contemplating spending time in Missouri. Unlike seasonal weather advisories, where no unnecessary travel on city streets or parking might be directed, the NAACP wants to make Missourians and our visitors aware of looming danger."
It also mentions a raft of incidents that have happened across the state to illustrate examples of perceived racism: "According to the Missouri Attorney General African Americans in Missouri are subjected to excessive traffic - 75 percent more likely to be stopped and searched based on skin colour than Caucasians."
There has been a fierce reaction to the warning on social media.
After the controversial bill was signed, Missouri NAACP State Conference President Rod Chapel Jr told CNN: "This does not follow the morals of Missouri. I hate to see Missouri get dragged down deep past the notion of treating people with dignity.
"People should tell their relatives if they have to travel through the state, they need to be aware. They should have bail money, you never know."
He adds that the advisory will remain in place for the foreseeable future. It will only be lifted if the bill is changed, and a plan put in place to lower the disproportionate number of coloured people being stopped by police.
The advisory is the first of its kind from the NAACP, but in May the American Civil Liberties Union issued a travel warning for people travelling through Texas because there could be a 'possible violation of their constitutional rights when stopped by law enforcement'.
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