Police Brutality in Ferguson

     I don't live in Missouri. I'm not there protesting or observing the protest. I am at home, sitting at the computer desk. For the second night in a row, I am watching the live feeds from Ferguson.

     Any mistakes in this account are my own. Here is what I have gathered has been happening in and around Ferguson, Missouri:

On August 9, eighteen year old [?] Michael Brown and a friend were thought to have stolen 48 dollars worth of cigars or cigarellos from a Ferguson convenience store. Several blocks later, an officer in a car stopped the two young men who were on foot. 

Michael did not have a weapon. He possibly was grabbed by the throat by the police officer who was in the car. Michael left and ran off. [I would have ran off too if an officer was wanting to choke me]. The officer maybe gave chase or ordered him to stop or something. Michael did so. The officer thought Michael was acting aggressively even though Michael was unarmed. Michael may have put his hands up. The officer shot him dead six times, including two shots to his head. Michael was dead.

I don't know what happened to his friend.

Ferguson erupted into protests. Included was and is the chant, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot."

The traditional news media typically is portraying the events in Ferguson as being a racial thing-- black versus white.

While it may be true that the police officer is white and Michael was black, bunches of people of all colors are out protesting this police brutality.

Eric Holder said some stuff and has visited or is planning a visit to Ferguson and promises a fair investigation and stuff.

Barack Obama a.k.a. Obummer was going to visit Ferguson but perhaps now is chickening now. Or, he probably ain't coming.

The National Lawyers Guild is in Ferguson. Amnesty was escorted out.

Sunday night, police reported shots fired. The National Guard arrived with heavy duty stuff. On the feeds last night, I saw police in riot gear with riot shields and tasers and stun guns and shooting tear gas and sound cannons. I also saw on the feeds last night a huge black vehicle (a swat tank?).

Cops began to demand that people keep moving and stay off the streets last night on the live feeds.

Then cops reported two shots fired and demanded that the press relocate to a pen near the command post but the road leading to it was blocked. This effectively caused a media blackout. Info from then on came from the cops or from people who were still reporting to the journalists

Some journalists were arrested but later released. 

A bunch of people were arrested. Most of them were arrested for refusing to move.

Reports earlier today[?] that a second black man near Ferguson but not in Ferguson itself was shot by the cops. He stole two drinks from a convenience store and some pastries. The excuse: He was acting erratically.

Things tonight on the feeds are very noisy. Cops are demanding that people stay on the sidewalk, keep moving, and not cross the street.

A grand jury is convening re: the police officer who shot Michael Brown. They do not have to convene in Missouri. I suspect no charges will be brought.

radical sapphoq says: No one deserves to die for stealing small things from a store. The cop couldn't taser Michael Brown or even fire a shot into his kneecap instead of using lethal force???
I am considering taking the professional observer course from the NLG.
To the people of and around Ferguson, Sail Strong. To the family of Michael Brown, I wish you healing and peace.

Three live feeds:

http://www.livestream.com/activistworldnewsnow

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/9035483/events/3271930

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/9649227/events/3301474 [must create free account]



Two twitter accounts:

https://twitter.com/AnonOpsPro

https://twitter.com/InsideAnon



Some of the many articles:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/us/shooting-accounts-differ-as-holder-schedules-visit.html?_r=0

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/08/19/more-mayhem-in-ferguson/14272717/

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/two-shot-31-arrested-in-another-round-of-violence-/ng5MQ/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/19/politics/missouri-teen-shooting-obama/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/19/341574604/fresh-clashes-in-ferguson-mo-as-national-guard-arrives

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/tense-tally-in-ferguson-includes-fires-shootings-and-arrests/article_32463afe-f868-564a-9533-9d8ae0b8df14.html

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/a-message-to-the-people-of-ferguson/article_ea8b7358-67a3-5187-af8c-169567f27a0d.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/world/europe/russia-iran-and-egypt-heckle-us-about-tactics-in-ferguson.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/ferguson-chants-heard-st-louis-cops-shoot-suspect/story?id=25041218

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/19/police-officer-shooting-st-louis-dead-knife

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/08/19/78-arrests-ferguson-overnight/14290361/

http://time.com/3144985/ferguson-michael-brown-darren-wilson-us-attorney/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/19/missouri-governor-jay-nixon-shows-us-how-not-to-govern.html

Dear Courtni Webb

Dear Courtni Webb,

I was infuriated to find out that your school principal suspended you for writing a poem in your personal notebook.  In my opinion, what happened to you is wrong.  Professionals can and do make mistakes.  Your principal made a mistake by suspending you.  Your teacher made a mistake by looking through your personal notebook.  Seizure of your personal property and then suspending you for your thoughts and feelings is a violation of your civil rights.  It is unfortunate that Life Learning Academy decided to violate your civil rights.  I am relieved to read that you are back at school and not expelled.

I thought your comparison to Stephen King was spot-on.  I've read almost all of his books.  He knows a lot about a lot of topics.  His writing reflects his knowledge.  And yes, he writes about horrible things.  He is a horror writer.  To understand horror is a burden.  And like Stephen King, your writing demonstrates that indeed you  understand horror.

Some people who truly understand horror become writers like Stephen King.  Others become crime fighters-- hostage negotiators, investigators, civil rights activists.  A few are murdered for their understanding.  Martin Luther King was one man who practiced  non-violence and died for what he believed in.

Courtni, your poem should be published in a book or a magazine.  I think your writing is that good.  Please do not allow the censorship of your self-expression to sour you on writing.  I hope that you keep on writing if you want to.  And I hope that you do want to keep on writing.  When you are ready, you may consider getting published in zines and litmags [Look in your public library for the annual Poets Market and Writers Market books], writing a poetry chapbook, reading your work at open mic nights.  I'm going to remember your name Courtni Webb because I believe that you are going to be known.  Someday, your poem will be taught to high school students and your story told as an example of blatant censorship of poets and writers.  I believe this and I believe in you.

Yours in the Struggle,

radical sapphoq





References can be found by typing "Courtni Webb" into your search engine.

Here are a few of the many that I read:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poems_poets/poems_by_poet.aspx?ID=26625

An article by my blogging buddy Chrystal Mahan here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/student-suspended-for-writing-newton-shooting-poem 

http://keithpp.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/california-teenager-suspended-for-writing-poetry/

http://topsy.com/www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/courtni-webb_n_2376833.html

http://madamenoire.com/tag/courtni-webb/

http://www.mysistagurl.com/2012/12/i-know-why-he-pulled-trigger-17-yo-high.html

http://myblacknews.net/fair-or-foul-san-francisco-high-school-student-suspended-for-writing-poem-about-newtown-shooting-i-know-why-he-pulled-the-trigger/12/31/2012/

http://www.prisonplanet.com/high-school-student-faces-expulsion-for-writing-poem-about-sandy-hook-massacre.html

http://intuitivefred888.blogspot.com/2012/12/freedom-of-expression.html

http://beyondproject.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/where-can-young-people-go-for-refuge-open-letter-to-the-principle-and-governors-of-life-learning-academy-san-francisco/

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/01/07/punishing-poets-is-not-the-way-to-stop-school-violence/

http://politic365.com/2013/01/05/adolescence-adam-lanza-sympathy-and-free-speech-infringement/

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/01/03/matt-gurney-suspending-a-kid-for-saying-pow-just-makes-schools-look-stupid/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/02/courtni-webb-high-school-_n_2396289.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/courtni-webb_n_2376833.html

http://www.eurweb.com/2013/01/project-islamic-hope-launches-petition-in-support-of-courtni-webb/

A DAY IN LIFE by Mare

I wrote this as if I was our daughter..and I just wanted to share. Spike feel feel to use if you would like. ~Mare

She wakes up to get ready for school like everyone else her ages does. She takes a shower, pets her cat, eats breakfast and gets ready for her day, just like everyone else does. She begins her day reading a book, and tells herself she is going to have a good day.
Her parents get up get ready to take her to school. She is a good teen-ager she stays out of trouble she is a only child so figuring things out comes first hand for her, almost like the oldest child. Her parents drop her off at school and hold up traffic tell her to have a good day and watch her all the way to the door to make sure she makes it in the school, as most parents just drop off their child and drive away as the day is too busy for them.
The day goes on and noone wants to partner with her she is called a "Lesbian" knowing she isn't they are just calling her that because her parents are. She pretends it doesn't bother her and the next class comes around and it happens again..Her mind shuts down and the emotions begin to fill and the feeling is too much. She begins to cry and then gets upset with herself because they are only words and she knows her parents love her and their parents are probably never around to tell the difference in their day, but "I can only take so much" her mind explodes with emotion and what started off as telling herself "I am going to have a good day" begins the day from hell.
She comes home from school and her parents know the look on her face there is something wrong and she doesn't want to appear weak or that she is ashamed of them, she doesn't talk about and her parents keep at her because they know and they care. She tells them ever so quietly and like it was no big deal. Her parents know better they know just what to ask and just what to say. Her parents walk her through some scenario to help her along for the next time around.
Her parents worry that the words will lead to attacks which will lead to other things all because two people love one another and have raised a child into this world. Children can be mean no matter if you come from a poor family, rich family, two moms, two dads, have glasses, or braces. Not that it makes it right but there needs to be something that can rest her parents from worrying, and her from having to go through the harassment.
They talk and hug and have dinner. They may go for a walk or watch a movie, She feels better when she is at home and hates when she has to get ready for bed for the new day is about to begin again and telling herself she is going to have a good day. ~Mare

posted by sapphoq on behalf of Mare