In light of the death of Michael Brown social activists from around the globe gathered in Ferguson, Missouri October 10 to13 for “The Weekend of Resistance” for Ferguson October.The official Ferguson October website called youth and all those standing in solidarity to action in the fight against police brutality and said, “We’re hosting a series of public events—marches, convenings and panels— to build momentum for a nationwide movement against police violence.”Lanae Pitts, a freshman at BYUH, said, “Police are supposed to be in the business of protecting lives, not overlooking and destroying them. We shouldn't need to protect ourselves from our protectors.”It has been two months since Michael Brown’s death and protestors “have defied a militarized crackdown and taken to the streets to call for the arrest of police officer Darren Wilson, who shot him, “ said a Democracy Now reporter.Jesse Williams, star of Greys Anatomy, was on the ground in Ferguson during “The Weekend of Resistance.” He commented on accountability, saying that everybody we know is accountable for breaking the law, so “if they happen to be wearing a blue shirt with a button-up that we paid for, they should probably be held accountable also.”Israel Wanoa, a freshman from New Zealand said, “I’ve never experienced police brutality, and where I’m from, it’s not an issue. I don’t know why people get so passionate about it.” “Brown’s killing was highly symbolic, another name on the tragic roll call of unarmed black men gunned down by white men and cops,” said MSNBC reporter, Trymaine Lee.Those at the forefront of the Ferguson protests are consistently posting articles and live UStream videos for those not able to be in Ferguson on their website. Petitions to the federal government to reform militarized and biased policing, and to GoFundMe, demanding an end to profit of racially motivated donors celebrating Michael Brown’s death, are also posted on the website.For updates on the Ferguson protests, text “HANDSUP” to 90975, or visit fergusoncotober.com.
Writer: Morgynne Tora ~ Multimedia Journalist
