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| In ‘Moral Monday,’ activists protest Brown shooting with acts of civil disobedience | In ‘Moral Monday,’ activists protest Brown shooting with acts of civil disobedience |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ST. LOUIS – Protests in the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown continued their “Moral Monday” civil disobedience campaign with an interfaith group of clergy who gathered for prayer and a march in Ferguson, Mo., the small suburb where the black 18-year-old was killed in August by a white officer. | ST. LOUIS – Protests in the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown continued their “Moral Monday” civil disobedience campaign with an interfaith group of clergy who gathered for prayer and a march in Ferguson, Mo., the small suburb where the black 18-year-old was killed in August by a white officer. |
| The clergy march began at Wellspring Church then headed to the Ferguson Police Department where they encountered a line of police. There, a clergymember declared the crowd would be claiming the police department’s parking lot as public space to serve as a memorial and “sacred worship space,” to Brown. Brown was unarmed but police have said he’d struggled with Officer Darren Wilson over his gun. Witnesses have said Brown was trying to surrender when he was killed. | The clergy march began at Wellspring Church then headed to the Ferguson Police Department where they encountered a line of police. There, a clergymember declared the crowd would be claiming the police department’s parking lot as public space to serve as a memorial and “sacred worship space,” to Brown. Brown was unarmed but police have said he’d struggled with Officer Darren Wilson over his gun. Witnesses have said Brown was trying to surrender when he was killed. |
| Participants in the protest used white and yellow chalk to outline the figure of a body on the parking lot’s wet pavement. Religious leaders then took turns sharing pieces of Brown’s life before concluding it was “cut short by police brutality and systemic racism.” | Participants in the protest used white and yellow chalk to outline the figure of a body on the parking lot’s wet pavement. Religious leaders then took turns sharing pieces of Brown’s life before concluding it was “cut short by police brutality and systemic racism.” |
| Rain https://t.co/jhXT7MtLcM — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 | Rain https://t.co/jhXT7MtLcM — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 |
| Rain https://t.co/jhXT7MtLcM — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 | |
| It was the second wave of the day’s actions. Sunday night and early Monday morning more than 1,000 peaceful protesters shut down an intersection by playing jump rope and silently marching through St. Louis before staging a sit-in at St. Louis University. | It was the second wave of the day’s actions. Sunday night and early Monday morning more than 1,000 peaceful protesters shut down an intersection by playing jump rope and silently marching through St. Louis before staging a sit-in at St. Louis University. |
| Vonderrit Myers’ parents address the crowd following moment of silence. pic.twitter.com/AUkNUJFvhK — Arelis R. Hernández (@arelisrhdz) October 13, 2014 | Vonderrit Myers’ parents address the crowd following moment of silence. pic.twitter.com/AUkNUJFvhK — Arelis R. Hernández (@arelisrhdz) October 13, 2014 |
| Vonderrit Myers’ parents address the crowd following moment of silence. pic.twitter.com/AUkNUJFvhK — Arelis R. Hernández (@arelisrhdz) October 13, 2014 | Vonderrit Myers’ parents address the crowd following moment of silence. pic.twitter.com/AUkNUJFvhK — Arelis R. Hernández (@arelisrhdz) October 13, 2014 |
| The protests are part of the “weekend of resistance” that brought scores of sympathizers to Greater St. Louis. | The protests are part of the “weekend of resistance” that brought scores of sympathizers to Greater St. Louis. |
| The demonstrations are the latest in a series of meticulously organized protests and acts of civil disobedience. The specifics have been held tightly by organizers, with just several dozen people aware of each night’s plans until moments before the actions. | The demonstrations are the latest in a series of meticulously organized protests and acts of civil disobedience. The specifics have been held tightly by organizers, with just several dozen people aware of each night’s plans until moments before the actions. |
| Sunday evening demonstrators gathered in the Shaw neighborhood — at the scene of another recent police shooting — and split into two groups. | Sunday evening demonstrators gathered in the Shaw neighborhood — at the scene of another recent police shooting — and split into two groups. |
| The first group departed just after 11 p.m., marching to a nearby intersection and shutting down traffic by playing hopscotch, jumping rope and tossing footballs. | The first group departed just after 11 p.m., marching to a nearby intersection and shutting down traffic by playing hopscotch, jumping rope and tossing footballs. |
| The demonstration was a play on what has become one of the most popular chants during the protests: | The demonstration was a play on what has become one of the most popular chants during the protests: |
| “They think it’s a game. They think it’s a joke.” | “They think it’s a game. They think it’s a joke.” |
| The second group departed about 45 minutes later, marching silently on the sidewalk to meet up with the first group. | The second group departed about 45 minutes later, marching silently on the sidewalk to meet up with the first group. |
| As the groups converged, they were met by officers in riot gear who held cans of pepper spray and smacked their shin guards. | As the groups converged, they were met by officers in riot gear who held cans of pepper spray and smacked their shin guards. |
| The officers stood both on the sidewalk and the street and threatened to make arrests. Protest leaders said they had the right to proceed on the sidewalk. | The officers stood both on the sidewalk and the street and threatened to make arrests. Protest leaders said they had the right to proceed on the sidewalk. |
| “This is an unlawful assembly,” an officer yelled. | “This is an unlawful assembly,” an officer yelled. |
| “No. It’s not,” protesters responded. “This is a peaceful group of people silently walking on the sidewalk.” | “No. It’s not,” protesters responded. “This is a peaceful group of people silently walking on the sidewalk.” |
| Officers continued to make noise with their batons as protesters refused to move. | Officers continued to make noise with their batons as protesters refused to move. |
| “Can you please stop beating your sticks and talk to the people you protect?” asked Derek Robinson, a local minister. | “Can you please stop beating your sticks and talk to the people you protect?” asked Derek Robinson, a local minister. |
| Protesters asked officers why many did not have visible name tags and warned them that observers from the Department of Justice were in the crowd. | Protesters asked officers why many did not have visible name tags and warned them that observers from the Department of Justice were in the crowd. |
| After about 20 minutes, officers allowed the march to continue up the sidewalk. | After about 20 minutes, officers allowed the march to continue up the sidewalk. |
| As the march continued, scholar and activist Cornel West emerged — prompting a massive cheer. Earlier in the night, West had announced he’d come to be arrested in solidarity with protesters. | As the march continued, scholar and activist Cornel West emerged — prompting a massive cheer. Earlier in the night, West had announced he’d come to be arrested in solidarity with protesters. |
| Chanting “hands up, don’t shoot,” marchers headed toward St. Louis University. University security and police officers tried to stop the protest from entering the campus. | Chanting “hands up, don’t shoot,” marchers headed toward St. Louis University. University security and police officers tried to stop the protest from entering the campus. |
| “I am a student, I have my ID, and I have a lot of guests,” a protest leader said into the megaphone. | “I am a student, I have my ID, and I have a lot of guests,” a protest leader said into the megaphone. |
| The security officers stepped aside and the crowd kept moving. Participants then gathered at the campus center chanting “out of the dorms and into the streets” as students rushed out of buildings. Some joined the protesters, others took photos and others brought out bottles of water. | The security officers stepped aside and the crowd kept moving. Participants then gathered at the campus center chanting “out of the dorms and into the streets” as students rushed out of buildings. Some joined the protesters, others took photos and others brought out bottles of water. |
| “This let me know that my son was loved and he is still being loved, right now,” said Vonderitt Myers Sr., whose son was shot and killed by a police officer earlier this month. Police said that Myers, 18, fired shots at the officer and that a gun was recovered from the scene. Family members insist Myers was unarmed. | “This let me know that my son was loved and he is still being loved, right now,” said Vonderitt Myers Sr., whose son was shot and killed by a police officer earlier this month. Police said that Myers, 18, fired shots at the officer and that a gun was recovered from the scene. Family members insist Myers was unarmed. |
| Myers’ family marched at the front of the protest and demonstrators observed four minutes of silence in his honor. | Myers’ family marched at the front of the protest and demonstrators observed four minutes of silence in his honor. |
| Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown, marched with protesters in Ferguson on Saturday, where protesters also observed a four-minute silence, a reference to the more than four hours that Brown’s body was on the street. | Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown, marched with protesters in Ferguson on Saturday, where protesters also observed a four-minute silence, a reference to the more than four hours that Brown’s body was on the street. |
| More clergy arrests pic.twitter.com/Y3sgcp674s — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 | More clergy arrests pic.twitter.com/Y3sgcp674s — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 |
| More clergy arrests pic.twitter.com/Y3sgcp674s | More clergy arrests pic.twitter.com/Y3sgcp674s |
| — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 | — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 13, 2014 |
| On SLU’s campus Monday morning, protest leaders addressed the crowd. They said their demonstration was about ending white supremacy and addressing systemic problems people face regardless of race. | On SLU’s campus Monday morning, protest leaders addressed the crowd. They said their demonstration was about ending white supremacy and addressing systemic problems people face regardless of race. |
| Loading Protesters gather around clock in center of university. Chanting “out of the dorms into the streets!” View on Instagram | Loading Protesters gather around clock in center of university. Chanting “out of the dorms into the streets!” View on Instagram |
| Loading | Loading |
| Protesters gather around clock in center of university. Chanting “out of the dorms into the streets!” View on Instagram | Protesters gather around clock in center of university. Chanting “out of the dorms into the streets!” View on Instagram |
| “This is the real definition of resistance … this thing right here that we’re doing right now is not only a symbolism of what we can do when we stick together, this is … It’s the beginning in a change in our consciousness as a people, as a human race,” Dhoruba Shakur said. | “This is the real definition of resistance … this thing right here that we’re doing right now is not only a symbolism of what we can do when we stick together, this is … It’s the beginning in a change in our consciousness as a people, as a human race,” Dhoruba Shakur said. |
| They noted the significance of it being Columbus Day, calling him “the first looter” and saying they were “reclaiming” the college campus. “I know this was a college a couple of hours ago, but as of right now this is our spot and we not going nowhere,” a protest leader said. | They noted the significance of it being Columbus Day, calling him “the first looter” and saying they were “reclaiming” the college campus. “I know this was a college a couple of hours ago, but as of right now this is our spot and we not going nowhere,” a protest leader said. |
| Cornel West among demonstrators arrested at Ferguson protest http://t.co/oh7Ko78WRG pic.twitter.com/G5yQs91Nnc — NBC News (@NBCNews) October 13, 2014 | Cornel West among demonstrators arrested at Ferguson protest http://t.co/oh7Ko78WRG pic.twitter.com/G5yQs91Nnc — NBC News (@NBCNews) October 13, 2014 |
| Cornel West among demonstrators arrested at Ferguson protest http://t.co/oh7Ko78WRG pic.twitter.com/G5yQs91Nnc | Cornel West among demonstrators arrested at Ferguson protest http://t.co/oh7Ko78WRG pic.twitter.com/G5yQs91Nnc |
| — NBC News (@NBCNews) October 13, 2014 | — NBC News (@NBCNews) October 13, 2014 |
| [This post has been updated. Last update: 2:20 p.m.] | [This post has been updated. Last update: 2:20 p.m.] |