TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A group of African-American leaders are calling for expanding Medicaid, repealing restrictive voting laws, reforming criminal sentencing and putting more restrictions on payday lenders.

The Lawrence Journal-World  reports that the agenda was adopted Saturday in Topeka.

It was announced after a group called the Kansas Black Leadership Council, including members from Junction City, Salina, Wichita, Kansas City and several other communities, came together for the first time to adopt a unified, statewide political agenda for an upcoming legislative session and the elections to follow.

Those attending the Kansas Black Leadership Council…. pic.twitter.com/iCTj7gQ8oB

— Melody McCray-Miller (@mccray_miller) November 21, 2015

 

They met at the historic St. John AME Church near downtown Topeka, which was built in 1864 and has long been a center of political and cultural activity within Topeka’s black community.