Content warning: the following video contains disturbing language and material that is inappropriate for some people. Viewer discretion is advised.
BikeWalkKC’s Policy Platform 2025
During BikeWalkKC’s policy platform rollout on February 26, 2025, an unknown individual took over the virtual meeting and engaged in disparaging and disruptive acts. The disruptions occur between the 3:30- and 5:30-minute marks. This included scribbling racist language directed at BikeWalkKC’s policy director Michael Kelley and a lewd drawing. Several meeting participants came off of mute to denounce the activity and BikeWalkKC staff were able to regain control and limit further disruptions.
After some internal deliberations, and consultation with several of the attendees, BikeWalkKC made the decision to release the full recording of the rollout which includes the disruptive activities. We chose to do this for two reasons:
- To show what BikeWalkKC is up against: In recent years, hateful and sometimes violent language via social media and direct messages against our organization, staff, supporters, and the issues we advocate for has increased at an alarming rate. This has included disparaging comments, racist language and imagery, hostile voicemails, and threats of violence. There is a backlash against our demands for safer streets and better infrastructure for walking, biking, and taking transit, and the current political climate is stoking the flames of this backlash. The troll’s goal in this meeting was intimidation. The result was the opposite. It galvanized our community.
- To urge our members to get engaged: The policy platform rollout is meant to help our members, partners, and the broader community understand BikeWalkKC’s policy and advocacy priorities for the year ahead. We often say that advocacy is a team sport, and the response from our community of advocates and supporters in this moment is a clear example of that. They called out these hateful acts for what they are and reinforced why this work is so important. In sharing this video, we want our community to understand that the only way we can create safer streets for everyone is for everyone to engage with this work.
To the troll who crashed the meeting, thank you for the reminder that unity trumps hate.
If you have questions about the recording or the policy platform, please contact us at policy@bikewalkkc.org. And, if you are able, please make a donation to BikeWalkKC and help us continue the fight for safer streets for all (yes, even for the trolls).