Michael Brown shooting: solidarity protests continue – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2014/nov/26/michael-brown-shooting-solidarity-protests-live

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5.20pm ET22:20

Summary

We’re going to wrap up our live blog coverage for the day. Here’s a summary of where things stand:

Updated at 5.22pm ET

5.04pm ET22:04

Update: Before it was a New Yorker cover (see earlier), it was an editorial cartoon:

2 posts on similar views of #ferguson & the Arch @abeaujon http://t.co/CsxP1U518Q pic.twitter.com/0Z89ByouQq @ErikWemple http://t.co/P6CP0T2Ydp

4.43pm ET21:43

The London protest appears to be growing more robust. Here’s a Channel 4 reporter with the crowd:

Traffic is suffering, demo so long it looped around and let itself. Now I'm at the back... pic.twitter.com/503gMjWCwg

Crowd has surrounded Charing Cross police station pic.twitter.com/bXIOymCSvt

4.37pm ET21:37

For some, Ferguson isn’t “a skin problem, it is a sin problem.” So wrote New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson in a Facebook post Tuesday that has garnered nearly 98,000 shares and 212,000 likes, writes the Guardian’s Sarah Galo (@sarahevonne):

As noted by Newsday, the reach of Watson’s post is significant since his page only had 20,000 likes as of this morning.

While Watson’s 611-word post doesn’t take “sides,” its concluding paragraph, which says “sin is the reason we rebel against authority,” has drawn impassioned responses:

I’M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that’s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what’s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It’s the Gospel. So, finally, I’M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.

3.57pm ET20:57

Here’s footage of the London protest via Ben Quinn. “Hands up, don’t shoot!” the protesters chant.

3.50pm ET20:50

Here’s an update from outside Ferguson, in Cleveland, where police shot dead 12-year-old Tamir Rice in a park on Saturday. On Tuesday night protesters in Cleveland called for an investigation of the boy’s killing and marched in solidarity with protesters in Ferguson.

Video released by Cleveland police on Wednesday shows that officers shot Tamir Rice “one-and-a-half to two seconds” after police drove into the park and confronted the child, deputy chief Edward Tomba said.

Tamir Rice, who had been holding a pellet gun, died of his wounds the next day. He was killed after a 911 caller reported “a guy” in the park was pointing a “probably fake” gun at people.

Police also released audio recordings of the 911 call from the park. One of the officers involved in the shooting, Timothy Lowman, 26, had joined the police force in March. “Tim was new to the Cleveland division of police,” Tomba said. He was working with Frank Garmack, 46, who had been with the force for six years.

Read the full report here.

3.43pm ET20:43

Video – Ferguson unrest: Michael Brown shooter ‘wanted to kill someone’, says parents

Video to go with our report earlier:

3.28pm ET20:28

For the past two nights protesters dismayed by the outcome of the Ferguson grand jury have taken their defiance to the streets of cities across the US. Now they are redirecting their anger about police brutality towards a new target – the splurge of conspicuous consumption that is Black Friday, the Guardian’s Ed Pilkington reports:

Twitter has begun to sprout a crop of hashtags calling on people concerned about the Ferguson shooting to zip up their wallets on 28 November. The main hashtag, #BoycottBlackFriday, has already been circulated among more than 7 million Twitter users, and there is also sizeable traffic to hashtags such as #BlackOutBlackFriday, #NotOneDime, #HandsUpDontSpend and #DontRiotDontBuyIt.

The thinking behind the boycott is spelled out in a video produced by Ryan Coogler, the director of Fruitvale Station, the indie movie that dramatises the police killing of Oscar Grant at a Bart station in Oakland, California, in 2008. Coogler founded the group Blackout for Human Rights shortly after Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson in August.

The video shows clippings of police officers beating and kicking a succession of unarmed black men over a soundtrack of the anthem of the holiday season, Most Wonderful Time of the Year. “This season show your worth,” the video exhorts its viewers. “Help stop police brutality by $peaking a language everyone understands. Don’t shop November 28th.”

Read the full piece here.

3.20pm ET20:20

The Guardian’s Oliver Laughland is at the National Action Network offices, where Brown family members have just appeared with relatives of victims killed by New York police officers this year.

Sharpton and Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump decided to take questions after all, reports Oliver, who is tweeting the news conference:

Sharpton now reiterating his calls for peaceful protest in #ferguson and around the country

Sharpton dismissing question that most protests carry potential for violence “don’t confuse civil disobedience with violence”

Sharpton asked to clarify some remarks made during the prayer: "I was talking to God, not to you," he says to reporter.

Crump asked how Browns's family feel about Wilson interview: "They felt he had no regard for their child. That was hurtful to them."

Crump reiterating his belief Wilson was not asked “one tough question” by St Louis County prosecutor during grand jury.

Crump says Brown’s family have only watched “bits and pieces” of officer Wilson TV interview last night

Presser ends. “Have a nice thanksgiving, we’ll be here feeding the homeless tomorrow,” Sharpton says as he leaves the lectern.

3.15pm ET20:15

PBS has created a useful graphic analyzing contradictions and agreements in the grand jury testimony of 19 witnesses to the Michael Brown shooting and the testimony of officer Darren Wilson.

Many witnesses – 11 out of 19 – said Michael Brown “put hands up when fired upon”. Only three witnesses, plus Wilson, said Michael Brown put his hands at his waist.

Many witnesses said Michael Brown “reached into or directly interacted with the police car.” Many witnesses said Brown “faced Wilson when fired upon.”

See the graphic here. (h/t @oliverlaughland)

2.52pm ET19:52

Meanwhile, hundreds more have joined the protest in London, Ben Quinn reports:

Hundreds more now at #Ferguson protest, US embassy. 'My nephew was executed'- Carole Duggan, aunt of mark Duggan pic.twitter.com/41fZiIk14u

2.52pm ET19:52

The families asked not to answer any questions, “they just wanted to pray and make a statement together,” Sharpton says. “Thank you.”

The brief event concludes.

2.50pm ET19:50

The relatives join hands as Sharpton offers a prayer. “We ask you as these families join hands that they find some solace and some kind of meaning at the suffering they go through.”

Sharpton now leading a prayer. Families holding hands: pic.twitter.com/wvIInc0aB6

Updated at 3.21pm ET

2.49pm ET19:49

“This will be the first Thanksgiving for them without a seat at the table,” Sharpton says. “These are real human beings, and the value of the the lives of the sons and their husbands... matters.”

“America has to deal with these problems,” Sharpton says.

2.47pm ET19:47

Sharpton is speaking. “This is a very painful time for these families,” he says. He introduces the attendees, including Lesley McSpadden, Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, and Kimberly Michelle Ballinger, the partner of Akai Kareem Gurley.

“She literally just came from identifying his body at the medical examiner’s office a couple hours ago,” Sharpton says.

2.30pm ET19:30

We’re awaiting an appearance in Harlem by the parents of Michael Brown and relatives of Eric Garner and Akai Kareem Gurley, both of whom were killed by New York City police in 2014. The event will be hosted by Al Sharpton at his National Action Network offices (read more here). Here’s a live stream: Update: this event has ended.

Updated at 3.21pm ET

2.23pm ET19:23

Londoners hold Ferguson protest

Relatives of young black Britons who died as a result of controversial police actions have staged a rally outside the US embassy in London to protest the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the subsequent decision not to prosecute the police officer who shot him, the Guardian’s Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) reports:

Wielding placards condemning the failure of a grand jury in St Louis County to indict police officer Darren Wilson for killing Brown in August, around 200 people joined in the protest outside the embassy and held their hands aloft chanting the slogan of campaigners in the US: “Hands up, don’t shoot”.

Among them was Carole Duggan, aunt of Mark Duggan, whose shooting by police was a trigger for the 2011 riots across England.

“We want to send out condolences to Mike Brown’s family. We feel the pain and know the pain of losing somebody at the hands of the police,” she told the crowd. “We know what it feels like to know that a member of your family has been murdered in cold blood. That is why we stand in solidarity with the community in Ferguson, who are very very brave people.”

London anger.. Ferguson anger Carole Duggan, aunt of Mark Duggan addresses a protest at the US embassy pic.twitter.com/0wIGm53qOp

Other speakers included Marcia Rigg, sister of Sean Rigg, a musician who died in 2008 after being arrested and restrained by police in south London.

“People across the world understand the frustration and anger that people in Ferguson are feeling when their loved ones are murdered,” she said. “What are they supposed to do? We try to go peacefully, just ask for the truth but all we keep getting is lies.”

The demonstration was supported by Labour MP Diane Abbott , who said in a statement that the family of Michael Brown had not just lost a loved one but, following the grand jury’s decision, “they no doubt feel the strongest sense of injustice, which can only make their pain worse”.

1.05pm ET18:05

St Louis police raise arrest total to 58

St Louis county police have raised the arrest total last night from 45 to 58. In addition to arrests previously announced, AP reports, “authorities say 13 other people were arrested at a protest in St. Louis on Tuesday night, including one on a felony charge of assaulting an officer.”

12.51pm ET17:51

Singer Garth Brooks has canceled a Thanksgiving appearance on NBC’s “Tonight” show because he said it “seemed distasteful” in light of Ferguson, the AP reports:

NBC on Wednesday confirmed the postponement, saying Brooks was being replaced on the show by Whoopi Goldberg and Tom Colicchio.

Brooks wrote on his Facebook page that he landed in New York on the night the grand jury’s decision was announced “to the news of the civil unrest that was going on in our nation. To spend the day promoting our stuff like nothing was wrong seemed distasteful to me.”

He offered to reschedule. There was no immediate comment from his spokesperson about what other appearances were canceled.

12.42pm ET17:42

Cover art by Bob Staake:

The cover of next week's @NewYorker issue is devastating: http://t.co/GL06wv6Nxk pic.twitter.com/xjqvkrWOsh

(h/t @kaylaepstein)

12.31pm ET17:31

Protesters are back in the streets of downtown St Louis.

Ferguson protesters are now marching through downtown St. Louis streets, as they did yesterday. pic.twitter.com/P1uHhL8Ko2

Protesters are back in Los Angeles as well:

BREAKING: Protesters have shut down the southbound 101 near Alvarado. More to come @LANow

MORE: Appears protesters are now mostly moved to the right shoulder of 101, but traffic still slow (@KTLA photo) pic.twitter.com/HeYNqfiE23

Updated at 12.34pm ET

12.25pm ET17:25

After a march, protesters have gathered outside the old courthouse in downtown St Louis to bring mock charges against St Louis county prosecutor Bob McCulloch and other law enforcement figures.

Charges are being brought against UNIFED COMMAND.Excessive force, attempted murder, tampering with evidence #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/oBqMoz26tC

Meanwhile, the mayor of St Louis encourages people to thank a cop today:

You will see police officers all day today. Wave, honk, thank them, smile with approval for the job they are doing. #fgs

12.16pm ET17:16

Here’s our report from last night on the Hanley Hills shooting:

The FBI agents shot in Hanley Hill have “non-life threatening” injuries, according to reporters at the scene.

It is unclear whether the incident is connected to the nearby Ferguson protests over Michel Brown’s death.

12.05pm ET17:05

Relatives of victims killed by police to appear together

The parents of Michael Brown, Jr. are scheduled to appear in New York City this afternoon at the offices of Al Sharpton’s National Action Network alongside relatives of two men killed by police in the city this year.

Scheduled to appear with Brown’s parents are Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who died in July in a police chokehold in Staten Island; and Kimberly Michelle Ballinger, the partner of Akai Kareem Gurley, who was shot dead last week in the stairwell of a Brooklyn housing complex.

“All three families will celebrate their first Thanksgiving without their loved one as a result of police misconduct,” a NAN news release said.

We’ll cover the event, which is scheduled to be live streamed at www.nationalactionnetwork.net.

Updated at 12.06pm ET

11.52am ET16:52

The City of East St. Louis has imposed a 6p-6a curfew for anyone under the age of 17, to last through 1 December, Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr. said in a press release.

The curfew was announced late Tuesday, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reports:

Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr., who announced the curfew, said that the city was imposing the curfew in response to the civil unrest throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. In addition, four East St. Louis businesses were broken into by looters overnight, he said. One shop that was looted – DTLR, a clothing shop – sustained about $10,000 worth of damage, he said. The shop is on State Street near 25th Street.

Exceptions include school and church activities under adult supervision.

“The city takes its responsibility of protecting the health and safety, in general, very seriously,” Parks said in a press release. “In particular, the adults of this community must protect our next generation.”

11.30am ET16:30

#FergusonNext: a call for submissions

The Guardian has undertaken a partnership with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ebony magazine, Colorlines news, the St. Louis American and the St. Louis Riverfront Times to find solutions after Ferguson.

How can we work together to find justice? We want you to share your solutions on Instagram using the hashtag #FergusonNext. The best submissions will be featured prominently on our special site, www.fergusonnext.com.

After #MichaelBrown, how can we work to find justice? Share your solutions with #FergusonNext http://t.co/vEyXRaokc3 pic.twitter.com/s6RiNnaTrM

Updated at 11.31am ET

11.21am ET16:21

The Guardian’s Jon Swaine is in Ferguson:

Police list says 15 of 45 arrests overnight in Ferguson were people from out of state. One a 32-year-old woman who lives in Berlin, Germany

That Berlin resident arrested was in fact @denice_ruptly, a journalist. Yet another reporter taken into custody by police in Ferguson.

11.01am ET16:01

Video: Ferguson, Missouri, police: ‘we could not have imagined reaction’

Here’s video from about 1.30am this morning of St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar and Missouri highway patrol captain Ron Johnson describing Tuesday night’s relative calm compared with the night before.

Updated at 11.06am ET

10.54am ET15:54

Brown's mother: officer 'wanted to kill'

The mother of shooting victim Michael Brown Jr said on Wednesday that Darren Wilson, the police officer who killed Brown, did it because he “wanted to kill”.

“He didn’t do what he had to do,” said Lesley McSpadden in an emotional appearance on CBS This Morning. “He did what he wanted to do.”

“You think he wanted to kill your son?” asked host Charlie Rose.

“I don’t think he wanted to kill my son, but he wanted to kill someone,” replied McSpadden, who appeared alongside Brown’s father, Michael Brown Sr.

It was the first time the family has spoken to the media since the announcement on Monday that a grand jury in St Louis had decided not to indict Wilson. Brown, who was 18, was killed in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri, on 9 August.

The appearance came a day after Wilson went on television and said his “conscience was clear” after killing Brown. “I know I did my job right,” Wilson said. He fired 12 shots and hit Brown seven times, including in the top of the head.

McSpadden sharply rejected the idea that the officer was forced to kill her son, saying that nothing Brown did warranted his death.

“This didn’t call for you to take my son’s life,” she said, referring to a video recording of Brown allegedly stealing cigarillos from a store shortly before he was killed. “If something happened in that store – and that’s a big if – that could’ve been dealt with.”

“His conscious is clear?” McSpadden continued. “How could your conscience be clear after killing somebody, even if it was an accidental death?”