FERGUSON, MO—African people in Ferguson, Missouri and throughout the world and freedom loving people everywhere have come to understand that the August 9, 2014 police execution of Mike Brown was not an unusual occurrence.
Police murder of African people, especially young African men, is normal, and it is routine throughout the length and breadth of the United States.
It is this understanding of police violence and murder, and gross neglect for African life that brought thousands of people together from around the world on August 30, 2014 in Ferguson to show solidarity and support for the African community there; to fight for justice for Michael Brown; and to demand an end to our colonial relationship to the U.S. government, whose different police agencies are in our community as a standing occupying army.
Africans resist state aggression
The August 30, 2014 demonstration was called by grassroots organizers as a direct response to the execution of Michael Brown by Ferguson white cop Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014.
The demonstration also targeted the massive police and military response to local demonstrators who were demanding justice for Michael Brown.
But despite the calling out of the Missouri National Guard, the State Police, Ferguson police, and other police agencies, the people of Ferguson would not be denied the right to fight for their rights and freedom.
In the face of Armored Personnel Carriers, police dressed in camouflaged fatigues with assault rifles and the constant firing of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets, the people fought back night after night, after night.
More than Mike Brown
Mike Brown was 18-years-old and was preparing to start his first day of college the following Monday August 11. Brown and friend Dorian Johnson were stopped and confronted by Wilson.
As usual in our communities cops operate like they don’t have to have a reason to stop and frisk Africans and execute trumped up arrests.
According to witnesses of the murder, Wilson followed Brown down the street as he shot 10- 11 shots from his firearm with six of the bullets hitting Brown. The fatal shot was at the crown of Brown’s head.
Brown, like most African victims of police killings and shootings, was unarmed. The African family sends our deepest condolences to the family of Mike Brown.
He is our brother and we must continue to fight against vicious police killings of African people under any circumstances.
The violence of the police force in Ferguson is typical of police organizations throughout the U.S.
Their mission is the same as any occuping military force. In this case the police are the first line of defense of private property, as it operates to protect the property of the haves against the have nots.
And as is typical, the forces of the occupying army do not live in the areas they police. None of Ferguson’s police live in Ferguson. In addition, out of a 54 person police force, only 3 are Africans.
Immunity for killer cops
It can’t be overstated that the police operates as a military force in the African community that keeps the people terrorized through police murder or the threat of imprisonment, which they often make good on. And they operate with immunity.
That is why Darren Wilson, the white cop who murdered Mike Brown, has yet to spend a day in jail. He is out on the streets with full pay.
One of the sticking points in negotiating U.S. troop’s continued occupation of Afghanistan was the question of immunity for U.S. soldiers for whatever atrocities or murders they commit against the Afghan people.
The U.S. wanted total immunity from Afghan prosecution just as its police in the African community of Ferguson here in the U.S. have total immunity from the African community prosecuting it for atrocities against us.
And what sets Ferguson apart is the valiant, open, broad day light resistance of the African masses. The people stood up with revolutionary fervor against local and state police and the Missouri National Guard.
Just as the Afghans are kicking the U.S. out of Afghanistan, the African community of Ferguson, Missouri, in its gallant prolonged guerilla style warfare against the superior military force that was brought out against it, is a practical step in kicking out the U.S. police from our occupied community.
But, as the mostly young working class Africans fought pitch battles with the police, the class struggle within our oppressed community is a fight that African workers must make.
Ferguson and the African middle class
Before the Ferguson rebellion could get to the open enemies of African people, the people had to neutralize the African middle class or, petty bourgeois sellouts who had come in as first responders to calm the people down and and get us on our knees in prayer.
This middle class does not stand for the freedom of African workers. They are white power in black face. They stand for whatever can put money in their pockets.
Two of the first to report to Ferguson was the preacher Al Sharpton, who immediately got the Brown family in a prayer mode. Then he made African people equally at fault for violence against our people.
Along with Reverend Al was the lawyer Crump who was also Travon Martin’s family lawyer. The first pledge Crump coerced out of the Brown family was a commitment to non-violence.
Crump, in the mode of the Rodney King lawyers with the “Why we all just can’t get along” plea, insisted that Brown’s father denounce violence at his first public speech.
And there was the black State Police Captain, Ron Johnson, who they directed to march with the people. He says he “feels” our pain.
But nevertheless he would not stand for any violence, unless it was coming from the police. This is a guy who would do the Mansfield housing projects what Lt. William Caley did to My Lai village in Viet Nam – he would not hesitate to massacre us.
Demonstration for "Peace Through Revolution!"
Because of the genocidal attacks and human rights violations against Africans, people marched through the streets of Ferguson in the blazing heat chanting down Babylon with righteous indignation.
The August 30 demonstration began with the acknowledgement of the family of Mike Brown. After injecting the spirit of fire and freedom through a myriad of protest chants, the crowd of thousands made the dreadful walk from the main intersection of Florissant St. and Canfield Dr. to (Ground Zero) the execution site.
The sea of protestors lined the narrow street of Canfield which seemed eerie in and of itself, knowing that only 3 weeks ago a child was chased down and murdered by an agent of the colonial state on such a small road. Signage read “No Justice No Peace” , Human Rights Now”, “ Not Another One” and “Freedom Now” and “Peace through Revolution.”
As we marched from Ground Zero, the sky open up and poured heaps of rain on our heads. The original plan for the demonstration was to leave Ground Zero and march directly to the police station. Instead, the march was diverted to a local park. Some marched directly to the police station anyway.
Chairman Omali and others speak; Chairman rushed off stage
Protestors who remained in the park heard from passionate speakers from various groups such as the Lost Voices and G.I.B.A.M., who expressed their readiness for revolution, willingness to protect the African community, and understanding of the need to organize.
Apropos of protecting the community, hero Edward Crawford, whose image (African throwing police fire bomb/tear gas cannister away from crowd of women and children) has become synonymous with the Ferguson Resistance Movement, was present at the rally and spoke to the crowd of protestors.
Chairman Omali Yeshitela of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) and the Uhuru Movement was an integral component in terms of organizing people from all over the world to resist the police state and land on Ferguson in defiance of an oppressive regime.
However, some of the leaders of the Ferguson demonstration made every effort to prevent the powerful message of “freedom” Chairman Yeshitela struggled to convey.
As he spoke about winning freedom, fighting back, and declared his respect for the young warrior Africans, he was bizarrely forced to end his fiery speech, which actually appealed to the masses.
Scattered groups throughout the crowd pleaded for him to continue with a needed uplifting message of organizing for freedom.
It seemed as though some of the organizers hurriedly huddled to devise a stratagem to remove Chairman Yeshitela from the podium.
They immediately tried to appease the crowd by complying with the demands to march to the police station.
Although some of the protestors marched to the park to hear speakers, approximately 2,000 people traveled on to demonstrate in front of the police station where police stood in line behind police protection tape.
The demonstrators were not affected by the police presence as they demanded the arrest of Darren Wilson and respect for their human rights.
Civil disobedience is necessary
Although the father of Mike Brown asked protestors to discontinue with civil disobedience, many of the protestors exclaimed that Mike Brown and the many others murdered are our family members and civil disobedience is very necessary.
The manner in which Mike Brown’s body was left to lay in the street is very similar to the ritual of lynchings.
In many cases, once a person was lynched the family members were prohibited from removing the person’s body from the tree until given permission.
The sight of a body hanging from a tree for hours and days – “Strange Fruit, Black Bodies Swinging” as Billie Holiday sang- was meant to traumatize Africans.
All of the events surrounding the execution of Mike Brown are synonymous with the 1800’s lynching practices except for the murderers did not attempt to hide as Wilson has.
It is worthy to note here, the cop Darren Wilson was once a cop of the Jennings police department of another small municipality in Missouri.
Corruption was weaved into the fabric of the uniforms of the cops so intensely, every police officer was terminated and the department was disbanded.
Those cops were dispersed amongst other departments. Mike Brown’s life and others mean nothing to the system.
The system rewards, hides, and protects those who violate the human rights of Africans and impede upon those who are in pursuit of happiness and peace.
All over the world these conditions are called colonialism. All colonized people have a duty to fight back.
Resistance until we win freedom
Again, our condolences go out to Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden and father, Michael Brown Sr. As we come off the heels of the killings of Travon Martin, Jordan Davis, Miriam Carey, little Aiyana Jones, Ramarley Graham, and Eric Garner, the killing of Mike Brown sparked a movement.
Let’s be clear, Ferguson is not an aberration or some anomaly in the mid-west. Africans all over the world are suffering from reprehensible attacks.
The people want freedom and they will continue to resist the colonial state forced upon us. From Bevercreek, Ohio, to Los Angeles, California, to Staten Island, New York, to Ferguson, Missouri we are taking back our Freedom! Ferguson is a testament that Black is Back!
We are fighting back!
We are ferguson!
Peace Through Revolution!
Come to the Black is Back Coalition
"Peace Through Revolution" mobilization
November 1-2, 2014 in Washington, DC
November 2 – Teach In
More info at blackisbackcoalition.org
"Peace Through Revolution" mobilization
November 1-2, 2014 in Washington, DC
November 1 – Rally and March on the White House
November 2 – Teach In
More info at blackisbackcoalition.org
