Ferguson: Five Years Later

(2014-2019)

Contents

1. Preface 6. The Growth of the

Black Freedom
Movement

2. The Prelude 7. What is Past is

Prologue
3. Michael Brown’s Life

4. Rebellion

5. The Judicial System

 PREFACE
Today is a little over five years after the passing
of the Brother Michael Brown in 2014. He
passed away in Ferguson, Missouri, which is a
suburb of the city of St. Louis. Afterwards, the
rebellion existed in Ferguson, Missouri,. Not
too long ago, the NAACP sent an advisory
warning to Missouri because of its policies
dealing with race. Missouri is a Midwestern
state once controlled by the French (centuries
ago), and it has experienced the U.S. Civil War,
segregation, covenant policies (which harmed
the housing rights of black people), and other
evils. Likewise, dedicated activists have fought
for freedom in Ferguson and throughout
Missouri too. The occurrence in Ferguson in
2014 signified the largest rebellion in recent
American history since the LA rebellion back in
1992. During the rebellion, innocent journalists
and innocent protesters were arrested, civil
liberties were violated, and courageous people
stood up against the evils in the system. The
events of Ferguson document how police
brutality and economic inequality including
racism are serious realities that we must deal
with in order to make society liberated for all.
The extremes of racism denial and class
oppression denial must be rejected. The
working class and all of the oppressed ought to
unite to end the system of racist, xenophobic,
patriarchal, and capitalist oppression.
The parents of Michael Brown (Michael Brown
Sr. and Lesley McSpadden) have continuously
spoken out against extrajudicial killings and any
form of unjust gun violence in general. Gun
violence is a health crisis and an epidemic in
American society. The events in Ferguson back
in 2014 represented not only a new era of social and political affairs. The Black Lives
American history but a new era of the overall Matter movement and other movements for
black freedom struggle. Ferguson proves that social change grew. Unfortunately, police
tons of young people are not apathetic, but killings of unarmed black people continued
they are willing to stand up for legitimate social from Eric Garner to other people. The DOJ
causes. That is why the grassroots activism in documented the corrupt actions of the
Ferguson were made up of young people, Ferguson police department too. It is also
women, and others of important to address
diverse backgrounds. They class oppression since
didn't want establishment society is heavily
control. They desire change stratified based upon
to be encompassing and real class. The poor have
in their daily lives. We saw much less resources
children and adults and opportunities
standing up against than the rich or the
militarized police, sound These protestors gathered at the Ferguson middle class. Poor
police department.
weapons, and the powers of shaming is common
the state. We have in Western culture,
witnessed ordinary people, journalists, and and that is wrong plus evil. People not only
activists being hit with tear gas, being unjustly need jobs. People deserve respect and equitable
arrested, and experiencing the might of the treatment under the law. Society must change
state while never giving up. After rebellions and (change deals with protests and developing our
some political change, we still have a long way infrastructure including progressive programs
to go in seeing police brutality eradicated. After in addressing our issues and helping our
Michael Brown's passing, a lot of black men, communities. At the end of the day, people not
black women, and black children have been only need cameras, but living wages, universal
killed by police officers, vigilantes, and white health care, the elimination of discriminatory
supremacists. The recent events in California, policies, strong educational services, and
El Paso, and Dayton, Ohio made everyone investments in community growth).
aware that America still hasn't dealt
comprehensively with the issue of hate and The events of Ferguson back in 2014 outlined a
bigotry. new era of the black freedom movement, and
we are continuing to stand up for our rights as
The events of Ferguson inspired a whole new well.
generation of young people to be active in
 The Prelude
To know about the events of Ferguson after five years, you have to understand its history. Ferguson is
at Missouri, and Missouri has a long history of being involved in slavery, Western expansion, and
other issues. Ferguson was founded in 1855 by William B. Ferguson. He deeded 10 acres of land to the
Wabash Railroad in exchange for a new depot and naming rights. Ferguson is a suburb of St. Louis.
Later, Ferguson developed into a city by 1894. Until the 1960’s, Ferguson was a sundown town where
African Americans weren’t allowed to remain after nightfall. It had Jim Crow segregation as Missouri
was filled with it back then. In many ways, Missouri was like a Southern state and a Midwestern state
at the same time. Redlining was common place including police brutality long before 2014. Redlining
is about public or private policies that restricted home ownership based upon race. Today, the city of
Ferguson is majority African American. African Americans experienced disproportionate traffic stops,
police harassment, and other problems. Back in the day, many black Southerners fled to places like St.
Louis and Ferguson to escape Klan terror, but the Klan was in Missouri too. In the West Coast and
the Midwest, there were racist housing covenants that prevented black residents from owning homes.
Unequal pay, discrimination, and other evils existed. The landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in
Shelley v. Kraemer, which declared that state enforcement of racially restrictive housing covenants was
unconstitutional, revolved around a St. Louis case.

As early as the 1950's, St. Louis have changed. Deindustralization and white flight grew. St. Louis back
then and today is segregated. Urban renewal projects like the Pruitt-Igoe housing project damaged the
lives of many black people. Historically, black neighborhoods were destroyed, and black people were
relocated.
Since the late 1960's urban rebellions, American police forces have been increasingly militarized. There
ware SWAT Teams now. There are armored vehicles whose purpose is to stop dissent that the
establishment deems "too radical. Militarized weapons are found in many lcoal police forces. This has
been sent by the Pentagon via the 1033 program, which originated by the Democratic President Bill
Clinton.

Once upon a time, Ferguson was a majority white city. When black people left St. Louis for Ferguson,
white people once again left Ferguson to go into further places like St. Charles County (which is
majority white). By the 1970’s, more black Americans left St. Louis and came into Ferguson because of
the housing covenants being banned. The population of Ferguson reversed from being majority white
in 1980 to majority African American today. Ferguson still experiences income inequality, poverty,
and other issues. The crisis of poverty, racism, and class oppression in general relate to the subsequent
story of Michael Brown (and the events that came after his killing).

This image showed a then eighty-eight-year-old woman named Creola McCalister joining other
demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown outside Greater St. Marks Family
Church with Brown's family and with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton in St. Louis on Aug. 12,
2014. The picture came from Scott Olson, and it's found at Getty Images

Michael Brown's Life

In order to understand the legacy of Ferguson, you have to comprehend the facts about the life of
Michael Brown Jr. He lived from May 20, 1996 to August 9, 2014. He had a family and friends.
Normandy High School in St. Louis County was the place where he graduated from. After his
graduation from high school, he had only 8 days left on Earth. He was 18 years old at 2014. He was
known as a musician who posted his songs on Soundcloud under the handle of “Big Mike.” He
wanted to focus on a training program for heating and air conditioning repair at Vatterrott College
technical school. Darren Wilson was from Fort Worth, Texas. His parents divorced in 1989. Later, he
worked at Jennings, Missouri, and then he worked at Ferguson by October of 2011. August 4, 2019 was
when everything would change forever. During the morning of that date, Michael Brown walked into
Ferguson Market and Liquor at 1:13 am. He received a package of cigarillos from the store. By 11:47 am.
Wilson received a call about a baby with breathing problems and drove to Glenark Drive, east of
Canfield Drive. About three minutes later and several blocks away, Brown was recorded on camera
stealing a box of Swisher cigars and forcefully shoving a Ferguson Market clerk. Brown and his friend,
Dorian Johnson, left the market at about 11:54 a.m. At 11:53 am, a police dispatcher reported "stealing
in progress" at the Ferguson Market and described the suspect as a black male wearing a white T-shirt
running toward QuikTrip.

The suspect was reported as having stolen a box of Swisher cigars. At 11:57 am., the dispatch described
the suspect as wearing a red St. Louis Cardinals hat, a white T-shirt, yellow socks, and khaki shorts,
and that he was accompanied by another male. A little after noon, Wilson saw Michael Brown. Now,
after this, many people differed on what happened next. Everyone agreed that, there was a struggle
between Michael Brown and Wilson. Wilson shot at Brown’s hand. Later, Brown and Johnson fled
and Johnson hid behind a car. Wilson pursued Brown. Later, Wilson fired his gun again while facing
Brown and hit him with at least 6 shots. Brown was unarmed and died in the street. The debate is
whether Michael Brown ran towards Wilson or was Brown running away. The killing of Michael
Brown lasted for about 90 seconds. Michael Brown was shot at least six times

This picture showed U.S. civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton with the parents of Michael
Brown, Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr., at a news conference at the National Press Club in
Washington, DC, U.S., September 25, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo
No ambulance was called to retrieve Michael Brown’s body immediately. His family wasn’t even
immediately notified. The forensic investigator came at 2:30 pm. His body was taken to the morgue at
4:37 pm. while police cars, SWAT, and other forces were there hours before his body came into the
morgue. That is wrong and disrespectful. The Ferguson Police Department came within minutes after
the killing of Michael Brown. Michael Brown’s body being in the streets for hours was disrespectful.
By August 11, 2014, the FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the incident. Some witnesses
promoted Wilson’s account of Michael Brown running towards Wilson, and other witnesses dispute
that account. The whole hand up, don’t shoot motto came from the view of those who believed that
Michael Brown put his hands up just before he was shot. The working class suburb of St. Louis,
which is Ferguson, have shown courageous to stand up against the status quo. We should accept the
truth involving this tragedy, but we can never accept the status quo. Regardless, we have to address
police brutality, poverty, income inequality, racism, and lax investments in urban plus rural
communities in order to see the Dream made real for humanity.

Rebellion
The rebellions didn’t start in Ferguson as a product of Michael Brown’s killing alone. It was building
for years and decades after a long time of neglect, racism, discrimination, and economic exploitation of
the mostly African American Ferguson community. By the time of August 10, 2014, the community of
Ferguson was in mourning. People were upset, confused, and totally filled with sadness. Protesters
came out immediately outside of the Ferguson Police Department on Sunday of August 10, 2014.
Michael Brown’s uncle led a chant saying “We are one!” On that night, the rebellion started. It was the
first major rebellion in America of this generation since the 1992 one in Los Angeles. Almost 300
police officers came on the scene. Crowds were stopped by tear gas. 32 arrests were made and 2 officers
were injured. Buildings burned. Protests continued on Monday, August 11, 2014. Peaceful protests
existed. Also on Monday night, clashes among the police and citizens developed. Rubber bullets were
used on the crowds. Tear gas was used. The St. Louis County police used armored vehicles and SWAT
units. There were militarized police which sparked outrage and debate as many people from across the
police spectrum questioned the usage of militarized police against civilians. At least 5 people were
arrested during that day. President Barack Obama on August 12, 2014 said a statement about the
passions over the killing. He condemned the rebellion. President Barack Obama offered his
condolences to Brown's family and community.

Brown’s family and civil rights leaders called for calm. On that day, Ferguson Police Chief Thomas
Jackson worked to deal with the crisis. August 12 was when Al Sharpton went to St. Louis to speak
with the family of Michael Brown and civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Michael Brown Sr. and
Lesley McSpadden are the parents of Michael Brown. On August 13, the police want the protesters to
not gather after dark when protesters have the First Amendment right to protest regardless of time.
SWAT Teams came on the scene again. Many journalists and individuals documented the military like
presence in Ferguson. Later, innocent journalists would be arrested, police aimed guns at innocent
citizens, and other evil conduct existed. On the night of August 13, 2014, one Al JazeeraTV crew
reported on the demonstrations in Ferguson. Tear gas came to them, and they ran away from them
leaving their camera equipment behind. On the evening of August 13, the journalists named Ryan
Reilly (of the Huffington Post) and Wesley Lowery (of the Washington Post) were detained by the
police illegally in a McDonald’s restaurant in Ferguson.

By August 14, Governor Nixon allowed the Missouri State Highway Patrol to take over security plans
in Ferguson. On August 14, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said in an op-ed in Time Magazine, that
the event was a tragedy and that police forces need to be demilitarized. Yes, I do realize Paul's
reactionary views (of refusing to find 911 responders which is horrific and wrong on his part), and I
reject his political ideology completely. U.S. Attorney Eric Holder said that he was concerned about
the police using military style equipment. President Barack Obama called for calm and allowed the
Justice Department plus the FBI to investigate the killing of Michael Brown. A state of emergency and
a curfew existed by Saturday on August 16, 2014. The curfew was from midnight to 5 am. SWAT
deployed smoke based deterrents. 7 people were arrested. August 17 was when Holder wanted a
medical examination of Brown by federal authorities. At night, Ferguson police harmed peaceful
protesters hours before curfew started. Many people used milk on the victims of tear gas attacks. Later
on, Palestinian activists gave advice to Ferguson protesters on how to handle tear gas. Journalist
Mustafa Hussein was a student journalist who was threatened at gunpoint by a police officer who
didn’t want to be recorded on camera. On Monday, police officers are found to use LRAD weapons
(or Long Range Acoustic Devices or sound weapons) and tear gas to suppress protesters. Amnesty
International deplored this act and they sent a human rights team in Ferguson which was the first time
they did so in America. The National Guard came to Ferguson.

Autopsy information came out. Protests exist nationwide from California to New York City.
Ferguson residents feel heartbreak and frustration over the incident. A Pew Research Center Survey
published on August 18 suggested differences in American public opinion between white people and
black people on racial issues. It indicated 80% of black Americans and 37% of white Americans
believed the shooting "raises important issues about race." Eric Holder came into Ferguson at August
18, 2014. Holder met with the Brown family and local officials. The National Guard left Ferguson on
August 21, 2014. On August 24, St. Louis held their annual Peace Fest, which had a particular focus on
Mike Brown. In attendance was Mike Brown's father, Mike Brown Sr., as well as the parents of
Trayvon Martin (Trayvon an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Florida in 2012). August
25, 2014 was when the emotional funeral was held for Michael Brown. About 4,500 people attended it
at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Ferguson. Al Sharpton made the wrong
comment about some having “ghetto pity” parties which is related to a respectability politics mantra.
People standing up aren’t having pity parties. They are fighting for revolutionary change. For a time,
Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ronald Johnson was asked to take over policing of Ferguson, as a
tactical shift to reduce the violence.
 The Judicial System
As time goes onward, the legal system continued. Wilson by September 16 is in hiding. He testified
before the grand jury. On October 24, 2014, Amnesty International published a report declaring
human rights abuses in Ferguson. The report cited the use of lethal force in Brown's death, racial
discrimination and excessive use of police force, imposition of restrictions on the rights to protest,
intimidation of protesters, the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and long range acoustic devices,
restrictions imposed on the media covering the protests, and lack of accountability for law
enforcement policing protests. Governor Nixon on November 11, 2014 mobilized the National Guard
in preparing to the grand jury’s verdict. Michael Brown’s father wants only peaceful demonstrations.
By November 25, 2014, the grand jury decides not to indict Darren Wilson. Protests and rebellion
occured. Over a thousand of National Guard troops and a police crackdown came about. Then,
President Barack Obama's Justice Department announced in March 2015 that it would not bring
federal civil rights charges against Wilson.

Protests transpired in 170 cities over the grand jury announcements in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Seattle,
Albuquerque, New York City, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Chicago,
Boston, etc. Numerous media reports and legal experts criticized the process for failing to return an
indictment in cases concerning law enforcement officers. By December 1, 2014, President Barack
Obama called for police officers to wear body cameras to record interactions with people. The cover of
The New Yorker's January 26, 2015, issue depicted Martin Luther King Jr. linking arms with Eric
Garner and Wenjian Liu, and joined by Trayvon Martin and Brown. On March 4, 2015, another
historical event happened. This was when the reports from the U.S. Department of Justice that talked
about Ferguson were released to the public. The first report said that Darren Wilson was cleared of
criminal wrongdoing and said that Brown probably did attack Wilson inside his car. Many disagreed
with that first report obviously. The second report is what many conservatives disagreed with. The
second report accurately mentioned that the Ferguson police department (where Wilson worked at)
had a culture of racism, discrimination, and it unconstitutionally targeted black people from arrests,
fines, and jail. It documented tons of evidence and sources to prove that point. 2 cops were shot by
March 12, 2015. Demonstrations happened in Ferguson to mark the first anniversary of Michael
Brown’s passing. Peaceful protests existed in front of the St. Louis courthouse to desire the Ferguson
police department to be dismantled. Wesley Bell became the first black county prosecuting attorney in
the St. Louis County when he took office in January of 2019. After the 2014-2015 events in Ferguson,
movements further formed and other tragic events in New York City, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and
other places in the United States of America show how far we have to go in ending the system of
oppression. In the final analysis, we don't want unarmed black people to be killed.

Protesting and standing up against injustice are human actions. For generations, courageous human
beings have sacrificed their time to not only protest. They have confronted police brutality, poverty,
and other evils that plague the world. Grassroots organizing and heroic social activism are part of our
identities as human beings. This is how great change has always existed in world history. We don’t give
up, because we aren’t built like that. We are built to be resilient, honorable, and strong to desire an
end to any form of oppression and unjust exploitation.

In 2014, Eric Garner was choked to death before the events in Ferguson. This happened in New York
City that caused more protests to fight police brutality. Many crowds outlined the words of Hand Up
Don't Shoot and I can't Breathe to make their voices heard. Police killings still are over 1,000 per years.
Data from the Mapping Police Violence group said that police officers were charged in less than 2
percent of all 6,836 killings recorded between 2013 and 2018. In only 0.4 percent of cases (or 28 cases)
during this period was an officer charged, convicted, and sentenced. In December of 2014, 12 year old
Tamir Rice was shot within 2 seconds of the police arriving at a park in Cleveland, Ohio. No officer
was charged, when this incident was completely unjustified. In Baltimore, Freddie Gray died in April
2015. Gray was in the back of Baltimore police van when he died. This sparked a social rebellion in
Baltimore that was suppressed by 2,000 National Guard soldiers. Six officers were charged for his
death, but none of them were convicted. Philando Castile was killed in July of 201. He was in the
Minneapolis, Minnesota area. His murder was caught on tape. Other black men, black women, black
children, and people of every color have been killed via police violence. While this is going on, Donald
Trump said that police shouldn't be too nice when arresting people, which called for violence against
suspects.
We don't want police brutality. We desire our communities to develop and flourish.

The Growth of the Black Freedom Movement

The events of Ferguson inspired a new generation of black activists among many backgrounds. The
grassroots is always the epicenter of those who enact monumental change. That truism is exemplified
heavily by the atmosphere of Ferguson, Missouri. For example, the Organization for Black Struggle
has done great work in fighting for the human rights of black people in St. Louis and Ferguson. Jamala
Rogers has been a decades long activist, writer, and a heroic person involving the Ferguson struggle for
freedom and justice. MORE or the Missouri Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, CAPCR or
the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression, and other groups have enumerable human
beings with talent in organizing plus executing programs of uplifting people. There is no question
that both religious organizations and secular groups have done great work to help the suffering, to
instill truth in the lives of the people, and to breathe inspiration among the communities of Missouri.
Missouri has a long history of slavery, racism, economic oppression, and other forms of pain.
Likewise, many people in Missouri during the past and present desire freedom, love equality, and
want true justice to reign in the world completely and without compromise. Kayla Reed is of the St.
Louis Action Council & Electoral Justice Project / Movement for Black Lives, Ashley Yates,
Johnetta Elzie, Opal Tometi, Tef Poe, Alicia Garza, Jamilah Lemieux, Patrisse Cullors-Brignac, and
other young people have put in the work in making sure that the voices of Ferguson are heard.
 Say Her Name
For a long time, many black women have been the victims of police violence and anti-black violence in
general. We know many stories of black women suffering injustice. As Malcolm X has accurately
stated, black women are the most disrespected, neglected people in the world. That is why the Say Her
name movement was created. It was created to eliminate the systems of racism, sexism, and other evils
from our world. In that sense, a system of justice can transpire. To be in favor of revolutionary change,
you have to defend the rights, the dignity, and the autonomy of black women. Justice is meant for all
regardless of someone’s color or background.

Rekia Boyd Korryn Gaines Sandra Bland

Kathryn Johnston Natasha McKenna Tanisha Anderson

The movement for black freedom is diverse too. It is about making sure that black women are
protected of their autonomy and of their total, fundamental humanity. It is about making sure that
black girls and black boys have their whole potential realized without discrimination and scapegoating.
It is about allowing black men to express themselves openly without ridicule and without toxic
masculinity. It is about seeing black people of every background to realize their total human
potentials. Many black freedom fighters are allied with Pan African movements, Palestinian rights
organizations, civil liberty groups, environmental justice organizations, and other people dedicated to
progressive change. Like always , we are against the mass incarceration state system, we are against any
injustice, and we believe in truth. From the death of Darren Seals to other tragedies, we have a long
way to go. Ferguson teaches everyone that oppression has no justification, and a rebellion for freedom
must always be acknowledged (and analyzed). We express empathy and compassion for the oppressed,
and we want solutions plus accountability towards those who are complicit in evil. Us black folks just
want our humanity expressed without restraint. We desire our independence.

The future is being born in the present. The recent tragedies of California, El Paso, Texas, and
Dayton, Ohio show us the truth that white racism isn't gone. Trump is what he is. He makes no bones
about his xenophobia, sexism, racism, and intolerance. That is why it is our responsibility to have
character that is the opposite of Trump's agenda. When Trump promotes a Muslim ban, we believe in
religious freedom. When Trump goes out and laughs about one person (in a Trump rally) wanting to
shoot immigrants, we believe in care for immigrants. When Trump goes around to disparage black
people who disagree with his reactionary views, we believe in supporting black people of every walk of
life. Black people are fighting inspite of many of us being called on by the police for no reason (from
walking, listening to music, and to BBQing food). I have hope for the future, because what seemed to
be impossible can be possible. Many years ago, slavery and Jim Crow existed. As a result of courageous
activism, legalized slavery and Jim Crow ended. We have a far way to go. We aren't naive, but our
cause is just. Lesley McSpadden has recently ran for city council. She also graduated with her daughter
Deja from high school. She recently wrote a memoir about her life entitled, "Tell the Truth & Shame
the Devil: The Life, Legacy, and Love of My Son Michael Brown" back in 2016. Recently, Michael
Brown Sr. (or Michael Brown's father) has called for a new investigation in the passing of his son.
After these years, many Americans realize the issue of policing and racial profiling. Many individuals
know about systematic racism, the mass incarceration, and they sincerely are fighting for solutions to
these issues. Other Americans have their heads in the sand, or they just minimize or ignore the
legitimate outrage by black people about injustices. Ferguson is a microcosm of America. It was
birthed as a suburb of St. Louis. Later, Ferguson has been a victim of housing exploitation, economic
exploitation, racism, discrimination, and poverty. That is why not only must laws be changed. It is
not enough to have minority officers, racial sensitive training, body cameras, federal consent decrees,
and community oversight (though these things are part of the solution). We are fundamentally
dealing with an issue of capitalist oligarchs using capital and racial divisiveness as a means for them to
control the masses of the people whether they are black or non-black. The system of oppression and
exploitation is at the heart of the matter. Some want black capitalism where corporate foundations
fund groups in millions of dollars to "keep the peace" and "get a piece of the action." I reject that goal,
since liberation is beyond free-market capitalism. The capitalist system's purpose is amoral or seeking
profit alone primarily (beyond an unconditional allegiance to social responsibility). That is why that
system hasn't done enough to address poverty, social inequality, wars, and other issues.

In life, we should always celebrate our greatness. Our ancestors came from Africa. They experienced
the worst mistreatment of human history. Yet, their descendants audaciously became lawyers,
doctors, scientists, teachers, activists, musicians, artists, barbers, salon owners, and other heroes of
society. That is why our voices matters. I know that I’m black and beautiful. Our creativity matter, and
our black lives definitely matter. Embracing our dignity and embracing Love is a way of life for us.

Liberation is collective power embraced by the people. That is why those who promote capitalist get
quick rich schemes (made up of many upper middle class people who feel superior to others via
elitism. Many black people, even in Youtube have the elitist mentality that if you're not upper middle
class or middle class, then you have no intrinsic value to black people which is a lie. Many richer
African American readily look down on the poor and working class African Americans) are heavily
silent on prison industrial complex, on police brutality, on the homeless, on the poor (unless some of
them want to poor sham people or disrespect poor human beings), and on redlining or economic
exploitation. If a person refuses to address the needs of the working class, the poor, and the homeless,
then that person is not a revolutionary. In other words, we ought to fight for racial justice and
economic justice at the same time, since police terrorism disproportionately harms the lives of black
Americans in the United States of America. That is a fact. In order to have economic independence,
we have to enact political struggle against the forces responsible for our oppression. Political struggle
and progressive actions lead into black liberation for real.

We have to create investments in establishing a much better society than the past. We want any person
to walk in the street and not be judged unfairly by virtue of his or her color. We certainly believe in
accountability in the world. We want justice as our black lives always matter.

Ferguson today in 2019 has a new community center. Many of the kids in Ferguson back in 2014 are
now ready to go into college. Ferguson police officers are required to wear body cameras now. The
Ferguson police is more diverse with 21 African Americans and 18 white Americans. Mayor James
Knowles III is still the mayor Ferguson after all of these years. The city has to deal with the 2016
consent decree. The decree dealt with an agreement between the Ferguson city and the Department of
Justice. The purpose of this plan was to overhaul the police and court system of Ferguson. What is
prologue is just the beginning. 2020 is almost here, and we will experience new adventures in the
future. Also, we hold fast to the same principles of integrity, justice, human solidarity, and liberation.
We believe in compassion given to those who have mental health issues and those who have
disabilities. The current system not only doesn't work, but it wasn't created to work for the masses of
the people but for the ruling class (or the one percent). It is no secret that police terrorism in our
communities have no justification and that is linked to the capitalist exploiters who desire the status
quo at the expense of the dignity of black human lives (and the rest of humanity). We don't want
multinational corporations to dominate the world society. We want power possessed only by the
people (i.e. power to the people is an excellent ideal to live by), and an egalitarian existence. It is
important to note the unsung heroes of Ferguson and other places in the world who are actively
fighting against injustices. So, in closing,
 Black Lives Matter.

By Timothy