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| A sunflower from the Potter street garden for Mike Brown |
While the police of Ferguson seemed to demand order, the citizens of Ferguson demanded justice After almost two weeks of hearing the media’s view and daily updates on the seemingly tragic, frustrating and chaotic story unfolding in Ferguson, Missouri, both Shane and I thought about a way to get between each crease. What better way to fully understand the issue in Ferguson then going to the city itself. Our journey began bright and early as we arose to complete our morning prayer from the prayer book titled “Common Prayer” at eight in the morning. Just after ending with the prayer for Kensington, we set off to catch an early flight that Shane struggled to book the night before. Traffic seemed to be moving smoothly and the air smelled fresher than ever; however, we still ran into a bit of a road block. Shane’s wife Katie noticed that our tickets were accidentally booked for the following weekend as we discussed our possible post incarceration plan. Remaining in high spirits, we decided to deal with the ticket once we arrive at airport.
As we arrived at the airport, we quickly rushed to a customer service representative for an gracious attempt to change the date and time of our flight. As if it they were expecting bad weather at the airport, things were not looking good for Shane and I. I began to wonder if were being given a sign from above that our attendance in Ferguson was not necessary. As I could see planes taking off into the air, I noticed our plans began to do the same due to Shane’s huge smile upon his face as he talked to his travel agent on the phone. We were able to be fully refunded of our previous order due to the airways 24 hour refund policy and we were also able to purchase new tickets for a flight in a few hours from Philadelphia connecting to Chicago then to St. Louis. Shane and I had some time before our flight, so we decided to grab a quick breakfast and spend the rest of our time chatting about how excited we are to travel to Missouri. In the midst of our chatter, we were able to snag seats on an earlier flight.
We touched down in Chicago and it seemed as if we felt the blow of the windy city immediately as we walked into the airport due to the good air conditioning units in each terminal. Things seemed to blow along as Shane and I were able to snag another set of seat on an earlier flight to St. Louis. As we strolled off our flight in excitement with our “fancy” shirts and pants on, we noticed that we forgot to check the weather in St. Louis. Similar to a paid limo driver, a wall of heat with our names written on a poster board stood at the entrance of the St. Louis airport. Luckily, we had rented a rental car with good gas millage and a decent air conditioning unit.
We met up with a few friends who had came down a few days before and headed to the memorial where Mike Brown had been shot and killed. Parking nearly a block away from the memorial, we noticed a line of roses leading up to the spot where Mike Brown was shot and killed by Darren Wilson. Emotions began to flare as I noticed a crowd of people still surrounding the memorial after nearly two weeks. I began to question my emotions and ask myself why is it that I began to feel sad. The answer became evident with each step towards the large pile of cards, posters and stuffed animals. I then noticed that it was not only a group of people mourning for a lost, but it is a city and/or an entire race that bewails for a lost. Police brutality has taken another life.
Shane and I share a moment of eye contact as both of our filled up with tears while thinking how sad it is that these types of death has become a norm in America. According to the FBI’s statistics of reportedly “justifiable homicides,” records showed that nearly two times each week a black male or female lost his/her life to a white police officer from 2005 to 2012. There was an average of 96 incidents out of a total of 400 police killings similar to Mike Brown’s each year. It was not only the death that stood before us that originated tears, but it was the number of others as well. It is shocking to find that although the majority, elite or dominating race in America continues to be the Caucasians race, according to census completed each year, a large number of statistical data shows that in 2011 the minority groups were leading in deaths by homicide for ages 15-34. African Americans being ranked number one with almost 45%. What is truly saddening is that I could have easily been another number added to the FBI statistical data.
As we all cleared our eyes while walking away from the memorial, we stop to create a prayer circle to pray for the families, cities and nations that are hurting around the world. It was then clear that our attendance in Ferguson was very necessary. Afterwards, we noticed children gathering to decorate posters with powerful words and phrases from magazine and newspaper such as “justice,” “nonviolence,” and “Stop the killing.” This seemed therapeutic for the children because they were able to express their pain for a neighbor, relative or good friend through positive actions. Shane and I decided to stop and help the children create a voice against violence. We then set off to view the block where the protest would be.
As we arrived on Florissant Avenue, we noticed how in only two hours the sidewalks were filled with determined protesters shouting for a common cause. All in that time, there had gathered both distant and local churches, organizations, and new reporters.Within minutes of everyone gathering, people began to march down the sidewalk while chanting, “We are young, we are strong, we are marching all night long!” Shane and I decided to join this movement, step after step, as we spoke with local pastors and protesters who shared their reason for marching. They all seemed to stress that they did not want officer Darren Wilson to be sentenced to death in prison or even killed at all, but all they really wanted was justice and for America and all police forces to acknowledge that their way of practice should be rethought. They believed that the movement, that those who are oppose would title as chaotic, violent or agitating, for the death of young black men such as Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown and Sean Bell are only a voice of many many people. So after speaking with pastors and protesters, Shane and I proudly marched from 6:30 pm until 2:30 am while shouting, “We are young, we are strong, we are marching all night long!”
