Hands Off The Ferguson, Missouri Protesters-Stop The Police Killings Of Black Youth-Stop The Harassment Of The Press- Free All Protesters Now!  

 

Frank Jackman comment: 

It has always been easy for the American imperialist capitalist government and their police to treat black youth, especially black males and increasing Latinos like they have treated the peoples of Southeast Asia in the past, and in Iraq and Afghanistan more recently as so much collateral damage when they pulled the hammer down. Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and a myriad of others shot down over the years by the police and/or vigilantes cry out for justice in Ferguson, Missouri this day and will not accept another whitewash. 

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Boston Common Protest Police Murder in Ferguson - Thursday 14 Aug 2014
by Common	14 Aug 2014 Modified: 11:14:30 PM
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In Response To Events In Ferguson, Boston Vigil Honors Victims Of Police Brutality By Abby Elizabeth Conway August 14, 2014 BOSTON — Hundreds attended a vigil on Boston Common Thursday evening in response to events in Ferguson, Missouri, where protests have been going on since 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer Saturday. The gathering was one of many planned across the country by a movement calling itself the National Moment of Silence For Victims of Police Brutality. The names of those who organizers say were victims of police brutality were shouted from the crowd and repeated into a bullhorn before a moment of silence, during which the crowd raised their hands. Feminista Jones, a New York resident who is coordinating the movement, told The Boston Globe that each vigil was organized by local activists. “The best thing about this – all of the organizers have never done anything like this before,” Jones told the Globe. “These are just everyday citizens who decided that they wanted to do something, and that’s important.” As people gathered on Boston Common, the Associated Press reported that hundreds took to the streets of Ferguson for the fifth night of demonstrations: St. Louis County police and state troopers were walking alongside demonstrators. Several marchers stopped to shake hands with officers. One woman hugged Capt. Ron Johnson of the Highway Patrol, who is overseeing security. The scene stands in stark contrast to earlier this week when officers in riot gear and in military equipment clashed with protesters. The mood Thursday is almost jubilant. A steady line of cars driving by the scene is honking and waving at the protesters. In response to criticism over how the police had responded to days of protests, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon earlier Thursday gave the state’s highway patrol control over security in the St. Louis suburb. Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery, who was briefly taken into custody by Ferguson Police Wednesday night, tweeted that the resulting change in tone on the ground was “stunning.” http://rt.com/usa/180472-ferguson-solidarity-rally-arrests/ .................. NYPD threatens mass arrests at Ferguson solidarity rally Thousands of people are rallying in New York in solidarity with residents of Ferguson, showing support to people across the US who have been victims of police brutality. The NYPD has threatened mass arrests if people do not stop blocking traffic. The New York City Police Department has reportedly arrested at least four people during a peaceful rally intended to pay tribute to Michael Brown and others who have suffered from police brutality. Thousands of protesters left their original rally location at New York’s Union Square and descended upon Times Square, ignoring police orders to stay on the sidewalk. As a result, police began cordoning protesters between 42nd Street and 9th avenue. Demonstrators flooded social media, complaining that officers had kettled them and refused to let them go. A number of arrests were made as the situation escalated, although the exact number remains unclear. Eventually, police told protesters they would be able to leave, but that if they returned to the current location and block the traffic again they would be arrested. These developments come as thousands of people in more than 80 cities across the United States gathered on Thursday to hold vigils for victims of police brutality, particularly 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was fatally shot while unarmed by police in Ferguson. Pulling together under the banner, “National Moment of Silence for Victims of Police Brutality” (NMOS), peaceful assemblies gathered at 7pm EST in about 37 states, including New York, California, Missouri, Michigan, and Texas. Twenty minutes later, groups observed a 60-second moment of silence, which was followed by participants sharing stories, marching, and chanting together. The vigils were intended to honor the lives of innocent people killed as a result of excessive police force, as well as those lives that have been touched by police brutality in any way. In addition to the recent death of Brown, New Yorker Eric Garner died from a chokehold by a police officer in July, and Ezell Ford of Los Angeles was fatally shot by law enforcement just two days after the incident in Ferguson. “We will peacefully assemble at over 90 vigils across the nation to share in a moment of silence and solidarity with each other,” NMOS wrote on its Facebook page. “Today, we will show the world and each other that we can come together, as ONE.” In New York City, vigils were held in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Hundreds of people gathered at Union Square alone, where they chanted, “Hands up; don’t shoot!” together after observing their moment of silence. Similar chants were recorded in cities throughout the US. “I’m sick of people of color being killed by police,” Harlem resident Sally Rumble told RT at Union Square. “It’s the same thing over and over again. America is not for black people.” That sentiment was echoed throughout the rally, where demonstrators raised signs that read, “Black lives matter,” and “civil rights don’t expire at sundown.” David Roberts of the Bronx, meanwhile, said the NMOS vigil was the first rally he had ever attended, but wanted to participate after hearing about Brown’s death. “I’m a young black man and that kind of thing could happen to me also,” he said, adding that he wanted to express his opposition to the militarization of law enforcement and was concerned with Americans losing their rights. http://rt.com/usa/180472-ferguson-solidarity-rally-arrests/