“We are praying and waiting, crying and waiting, talking and waiting… Why do we have to go through all that? This is simply about what’s right and what’s wrong – Mrs. Angela Whitman, 44, of Ferguson.
A national call has been made to support the grassroots struggle for justice for Michael Brown and all young lives that have been unjustifiably cut short by law enforcement officers throughout the United States. Reminiscent of the southern civil rights movement of the 1960s, there is a fierce determination that justice must prevail.
Since the execution of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., the African American community and its allies have fought “tooth and nail” demanding the immediate arrest of the white police officer Darren Wilson who fatally shot the unarmed 18 year-old black youth.
Equally important has been the push to have the prosecuting attorney, Robert McCullough, recuse himself from the case being that McCullough’s father, a police officer, was killed by an African American man. With Ferguson’s police department history of racial profiling and arrests, there is no way McCullough can fairly prosecute the case against Officer Wilson. To this day McCullough has refused to step down, and the primarily white political power structure in Ferguson and the governor have not been willing to concede to this demand.
Therefore the tremendous will and efforts of the African American people will only be actualized if thousands of Americans of good will and understanding join hands to help usher in a new day in this small Midwestern town. This movement is the “eye of the storm” of the civil rights movement of today. For more than 57 days, people of Ferguson have picketed; sat-in; conducted a massive voter registration drive which resulted in 3,000 new voters; held special church gatherings; raised money to help Michael’s family; and developed media to address the local and national crisis of police brutality and racial profiling within communities of color and the poor.
The Oct. 10-13 four-day weekend activities will include:
1. Friday: Workshop training for peaceful resistance
2. Hip-hop concert
3. Saturday: Massive march
4. Sunday: Special church services
5. Monday: Peaceful protest and sit-in
Everyone is needed! If you absolutely cannot come to Ferguson, there are other ways to help. First and foremost, help spread the word about what is going on! Post it on your social media. Text: handsup to 90975 to get an accurate account of current developments.
Financial contributions are desperately needed to help feed and house as many participants as possible.
Remember, Ferguson is a small town with limited resources. If you live near Ferguson, housing and carpooling would be graciously received.
For more information go to: fergusonoctober.com or handsupunited.org.
Photo: Ferguson August 19, 2014. Earchiel Johnson/PW
CONTRIBUTOR
Comments