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There may not be bombs exploding, but we are undoubtedly at war We’ve had to quickly and repeatedly adapt to the ongoing assaults by the Trump administration, aimed at attacking our constitution and civil rights.
Despite being on the battleground, we are eager to finally update you on recent changes within Justice for Wyandotte, new programming, and a critical development in our work with the Department of Justice following the suicide of corrupt detective Roger Golubski
Read this newsletter to learn how we plan to stand strong in the ongoing fight for justice in Wyandotte
Our future requires resilience. In an attempt to prepare for the upcoming challenges in the fight for social justice, we have added to amazing board members, Michael Rebne and Lauren Bonds
Lauren Bonds
ROGER GOLUBSKI WITH ATTORNEY, PHOTO BY KCUR
Justice for Wyandotte
Lauren is the Executive Director of the National Police Accountability Project Prior to joining NPAP, Lauren was the Legal Director of the ACLU Kansas. Before her time with the ACLU, Lauren served as Assistant General Counsel at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) where she provided legal support to the union's Fight for $15 campaign She has represented lowincome workers in employment and civil rights litigation, including voting rights cases in Alabama and North Carolina Lauren received her law degree from Duke University and undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas.
Michael Rebne
Michael Rebne has been a classroom teacher for 20 years, 16 of which have been in USD 500 He currently teaches physics at Wyandotte High School. He is also a former executive board member of his union NEAKCK, a former city council member in Roeland Park, KS, and has been an organizer with Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJKC) for 8 years He loves spending time with his family, playing and coaching sports, traveling, and is passionate about justice work
WYANDOTTEYOUTH COMMUNITYORGANIZERS
We are proud to announce The Wyandotte Youth Community Organizers (WYCO) Summer Workshop The self-sustainability and safeguarding of all minority communities depends on our plans and preparation for the future just as much as it depends on our fight in the present It is clear we will need a pipeline of community organizers and civically engaged outreach teams who represent our most vulnerable communities In anticipation of this need, we are launching a summer youth workshop to teach teens and young adults how to effectively mobilize their communities
We are seeking local organizations and neighborhood groups in Kansas City, KS, to submit local issues they would like to raise awareness about or gather data on. Our young community organizers will then vote on the issue that matters most to them
For more information, please email info@justiceforwyandotteorg
Justice for Wyandotte
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In the aftermath of Roger Golubski’s suicide and the abrupt end of his federal trial we were stunned and disheartened by how his cowardly actions denied his victims, and ultimately the community, any form of justice or accountability.
Through Justice for Wyandotte’s advocacy, we have partnered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on reform initiatives After Golubski’s death, we learned that the DOJ was struggling to find a pathway toward restorative justice for Wyandotte County
In light of looming civil lawsuits against the county’s leading governing bodies, the DOJ was struggling to bring all parties to the table for mediation and community dialogue
Justice for Wyandotte launched a project to help chart a path forward one that shifted the narrative away from Roger Golubski and instead centered on repairing the city and county’s relationship with Black women. We were making progress toward meaningful community discussions with this goal in mind
But as the Trump administration took office, doubts emerged about whether the
WYANDOTTE TOWN HALL FOR COMMUNITY AFTER GOLUBSKI’S SUICIDE, PHOTO BY KCUR
Justice for Wyandotte
Department of Justice could remain a reliable partner Although initially assured that our initiative would be protected under constitutional civil rights despite attacks on DEI programs we soon realized the Trump administration was systematically undermining these protections As communication with the Department of Justice deteriorated, we witnessed an alarming shift: the DOJ's power was being weaponized to deport Hispanic citizens to high security prisons in El Salvador without due process.
This made one thing clear: the DOJ was not just failing to help it had become an active threat to our community There would be no refuge in institutions meant to protect us Our only path forward is through our own collective strength: to fight, to protect, and to heal
Justice for Wyandotte is a small grassroots organization serving a county that often gets lost in the shadow of the Kansas City metro area We are overlooked and rarely supported. Our mission wasn't born from funding opportunities it arose from necessity.
Sadly, social justice groups like ours face
scarce funding options but, there is still great power in people Grassroots organizations are essential in every community because we serve as the people's only oversight. Our presence reminds governing bodies that someone is watching that we're here to hold them accountable to protect and serve the community they're sworn to represent
We're returning to the drawing board to determine how best to serve our community during this challenging time For Golubski's victims, civil lawsuits remain an option against the entities that failed to restrain his misconduct. However, pursuing justice requires financial resources many victims lack You can support one of the victims, Opehlia Williams directly through her family’s donation page (Use QR Code)
If you'd like to help our efforts to reform the policies and conditions that endangered Black women in Kansas City, KS, please consider contributing to our Solidarity Fund
Find ways to give by visiting www.justiceforwyandotte.org/give
