Nov. 9, 2014
Ferguson Protesters Prepare to Remain Peaceful Following Grand Jury Announcement By Kenya Vaughn
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from The St. Louis American St. Louis American
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - “If you feel like the police needs to know when to get ready, don’t you think the community needs to know when to get ready,” said Michael McPhearson, Don’t Shoot Coalition co-chair and executive director of Veterans For Peace.
He was one of the teachers who stood in the middle of a learning circle with a diameter that spread across the entire gymnasium of the Greater St. Mark Church early Saturday afternoon.
More than 150 protesters came to ready themselves for what they are already expecting to be a non-indictment against Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown on August 9 – and the unrest they are certain to ensue.
For the second day in a row, demonstrators have gathered for insight on how to maintain peace and calm with emotions on high – guided by The Don’t Shoot Coalition and other organizations as an extension of Ferguson October.
“I urge as many white people as possible to go to jail,” said protester and organizer Lisa Fithian. “It’s really important for you in here to see what it feels like to lose your privilege.”
“That’s right” and “uhh huh” echoed across the gym as Fithian delivered cold hard facts about how she feels the atmosphere will change when demonstrators return to the street following the grand jury’s announcement.
“There are going to be white people in the community who come out armed that don’t support our cause,” Fithian said. “If you are a white person and you see a bunch of white people coming, then you need to meet them at the front of the line.”
Applause came from black and white attendees. As was the undivided attention that was given to Fithian and McPhearson, the resolve and resilience among the group was striking.
Fithian reinforced the importance of them working as a team to get in the mindset to keep their wits and a peaceful mindset in the worst case scenario.
“We have to make a choice to take a risk,” Fithian said. “If we’re prepared and organized, there is nothing they can do to stop us."
And even as she mentioned the potential for arrest and bodily harm by opposing forces – the group seemed up for the challenge of creating a narrative of peaceful demonstration in the wake of a non-indictment.
“The key to all of this is that we have to be organized and prepared – if we are not organized and prepared we will suffer defeat and be divided.”
McPhearson spoke specifically to the older people in the group.
“Trust young people that they know what they’re doing,” McPhearson said. “When you’re out there – especially when you haven’t been out there on a regular basis – and you see the young people really giving the police hell, don’t feel like you need to do something. The young people are not as out of control as you think they are.”
They practiced trust exercises and peaceful tactics to not only maintain calm, but protect each other on the front line of protests when they face off with police – and agitators (both external and internal) – to keep violence to a minimum when they continue with their demonstrations.
“Do not rely on law enforcement to help you in this moment,” McPherson warned. “ Because the reason we’re at this moment is because of law enforcement.”