WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – On Thursday, local activist Mary Dean filed an ethics complaint against Wichita mayor Lily Wu for “blatant disregard of reparations advocacy.”
In her complaint, Dean, the president of the Kansas Justice Advocate, criticized Wu for “her deliberate neglect and dismissal of efforts to address systemic racism and pursue reparative justice for Wichita’s Black community.
In February 2024, Dean spoke in front of Wichita’s City Council urging Wichita to join the growing number of U.S. cities helping the Black community to heal from decades of systemic racism by creating a reparations commission. Dean’s request followed the formation of a reparations commission in Kansas City, Mo.
In her Thursday complaint, Dean outlined several attempts to engage the mayor, including City Council appearances, letters of support, endorsements and invitations for additional communication.
Wu responded quickly Thursday in a letter to Dean, rejecting Dean’s ideas.
“With deep historical roots and far-reaching implications, something like (reparations) is best addressed at the federal level, where solutions can be deliberated most comprehensively,” she wrote.
Wu said that Wichita continues to honor Black history and achievement.
“I also recognize the importance of honoring Kansas’ rich history of independence, which includes entering the Union in 1861 as a free state, where slavery was prohibited,” Wu wrote. “Kansas played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad and the fight for freedom and justice before the turmoil of “Bleeding Kansas.”
“In this spirit, the City of Wichita will continue to acknowledge Black History Month and celebrate the profound contributions of Black Americans to our city, state and nation’s history.”
Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com