By AP
St. Louis, MO – Rev. Meanes believes blacks still feel intimidated by police in Belleville, and notes that the
city has never had its own chapter. But the president of the East St. Louis chapter of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People says he doesn't feel the new group is necessary.
Johnny Scott says his chapter represents the entire southern third of the state, with the exception of small areas covered by
Alton, Mount Vernon and Carbondale units. Scott says his chapter helped the federal government reach a
consent decree with Belleville to force the hiring of minority workers when the city had previously had none.