Peace Returns to Ferguson as Community Comes Together, Police Stand-Down

Peace Returns to Ferguson as Community Comes Together, Police Stand-Down

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Tonight, I witnessed a community of people come together – in so many ways. It’s not that the State Police took control from the local thugs, it’s that the police totally stood-down, and let the people have the streets to themselves to vent, speak, and embrace. I witnessed a unity which I haven’t seen in recent memory. People directed traffic, collected garbage, and when a fight had begun to erupt between two people, it was immediately deescalated by the crowd; “not here, not today,” fellow community members said as they separated the two contenders.

Outside of this single incident, I did not see anything out of order, nor did I feel any hostility. In fact, I’d like to give a shout-out to John, Joe, Donitra, and Spook for hanging out, and telling me their stories.

“Hands Up!”- -“Don’t Shoot!”

"Hands Up!"- -"Don't Shoot!"

Thousands of people take to the streets as a community of unity.

Thousands of people take to the streets as a community of unity. -03221 - Copy

Many people, both Black and White, reported to me that this shooting wasn’t anything new. What’s new is social media, and independent journalists.

Thousands of people take to the streets as a community of unity2. -03238 - Copy

Ferguson resident, John Robson (left), works on average 64 hours a week for $9.00 per hour. With two kids, it’s hard to make ends meet.

"We just want to live like you live, we want to go where you go, do what you do, and get paid what you get paid - we just want to live." - John Robson (left)
“We just want to live like you live, we want to go where you go, do what you do, and get paid what you get paid – we just want to live.” – John Robson (left)

Earlier in the day approximately 2000 citizens took to the streets to peaceably march in remembrance of Michael Brown, the unarmed teenager who was gunned down last weekend by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

Stop Killing Our Kids
Stop Killing Our Kids

The situation was defused by the passionate and personal address to the crowd given by, Captain R. Johnson, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

“I grew up in this community, I graduated from Riverview Gardens High School. My mother still lives here, and I live here, and I can tell you there’s going to be a little different thing done today. I’m going to march with you, and when you get down to the Quick-Trip, there’s not going to be a police line… We’re all in this together.”

Captain R. Johnson, Missouri State Highway Patrol
Captain Ron Johnson, Missouri State Highway Patrol

Basically, the traditional “Good Ol’ Boy” network here in Missouri, woke up to the fact that they now live in the information age, and can’t get away with their usual shady practices.

Solemn Brothers In Arms
Solemn Brothers In Arms
We Are The Village
We Are The Village

I’m listening to CNN report that the protest was peaceful, and that the State Police took over crowd control. From what I witnessed, the people themselves took over crowd control.

Justice

It was reported to me by several witnesses, that on the first night when the small riot erupted, the police had antagonized the crowd prior to the violence breaking out. Donitra Jones, life-long resident of Ferguson, stated that people were standing peaceably arm-in-arm when the police came at the crowd. Jones also told me that several officers had chanted, “monkeys step back” as they pressed upon the peaceful assembly. Joe Robins, another resident of Ferguson, claimed that several officers spat in peoples’ faces. Everyone with whom I spoke today, concurred that it was only after these types of attacks by the Ferguson Police that the violence erupted.

If They Gunned Me Down – RIP Michael Brown
If They Gunned Me Down - RIP Michael Brown

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