No matter what the outcome of the Ferguson, Mo., grand jury decision is on the shooting death of Michael Brown, one thing is clear: This is not the end. Not for Ferguson, or for the thousands of other precincts in the nation where our children are being gunned down without provocation.
On the day the decision is announced, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the chapters of the National Action Network will mobilize in 25 cities nationwide to rally in support of the Brown family and to make plans for what comes next.
It is shocking that a decision has not been reached to date by the grand jury. The grand jury’s charge is not to try a case, but to determine if enough evidence exists to go to trial. In the case of Brown, his body lying lifeless on a Ferguson street for hours is more than enough. In cases such as this one, the wait for an indictment is absurd. The ill will and angst that it creates are unnecessary. The longer the decision takes, the more leaks come out. The temperature in the communities rise, and the fear of no indictment rises as well. This circumstance, coupled with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon calling in the National Guard, only makes matters worse. “What does the governor know?”
The truth is, very few people know the answers at this point, and we can only point to actions of the governor and the leaks that have come from the grand jury to make us fear the worst. But who knows? The only thing we know is that this decision cannot be the end. No matter what the outcome, we need to continue to organize, and we need to continue to act. We need to gather in the 25 cities and create our plans of action.
It has been open season on our communities for too long, and we can’t sit back and just wait for the next incident. We must stay ever vigilant. We must stay organized, but we must stay peaceful.
When we allow ourselves and our brothers and sisters to become violent, we are only harming ourselves and blighting our communities. That is what our enemies want. They want us to respond with fear and hate. We must respond with control and purpose. We must come together stronger and firmer. We must be more organized and more disciplined. We must be united against the hate and the police culture that has robbed us of our pursuit of life, liberty and justice.
Our only answer is organization and peace, because we know that this struggle is beyond Ferguson, and what happened there is not an aberration. Let’s give them what they don’t expect from us—a united front, a peaceful front, a sustained movement. We have the ability; we just need the commitment. Let us stand together so that we all can continue to stand!
Gatherings are set for the following locations nationwide.
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FERGUSON, MO: Police Department, 222 S. Florissant Road
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STATEN ISLAND, NY: 225 Cadman Plaza E., Brooklyn, NY
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CENTRAL BROOKLYN, NY: 225 Cadman Plaza E., Brooklyn, NY
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QUEENS, NY: 225 Cadman Plaza E., Brooklyn, NY
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LOS ANGELES, CA: 255 E. Temple
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DETROIT, MI: 231 W. Lafayette Boulevard
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CINCINATTI, OH: 550 Main Street
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PHILADELPHIA, PA: 601 Market Street
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ORLANDO, FL: 401 W. Central Boulevard
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BIRMINGHAM, AL: 1729 5th Avenue N. #140
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ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: 2715 Atlantic Avenue
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CLEVELAND, OH: 801 W. Superior Avenue
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NORTH NEW JERSEY: 970 Broad Street (Broad & Walnut)
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CHARLOTTE, NC: 401 W. Trade Street
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ATLANTA, GA: 75 Spring Street, SW, 2211 U.S. Courthouse
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CHICAGO, IL: 219 S. Dearborn Street #74
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PATERSON, NJ: 401 Grand Street
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OAKLAND, CA: 1225 Fallon Street
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SOUTH BROOKLYN: 225 Cadman Plaza E., Brooklyn, NY
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TALLAHASSEE, FL: 111 South Adams Street
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CHARLESTON, SC: 200 East Bay Street, City of Charleston Police Department, 180 Lockwood Boulevard
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PHOENIX, AZ: 400 W. Washington
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NATCHEZ, MS: 109 N. Pearl Street
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SANFORD, FL: 1300 Park Avenue
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NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER: 225 Cadman Plaza E., Brooklyn, NY