A new coalition of African-American elected officials who represent parts of Ferguson announced a new campaign of civic engagement on Tuesday.
State Rep. Courtney Curtis, St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby and Ferguson Township Committeewoman Patricia Bynes – all African-American Democrats – said they are starting weekly meetings intended to educate Ferguson residents about the political process and groom new candidates for elected and appointed office.
The group, calling itself Ferguson United, will meet with residents 6-8 p.m. Thursday evenings at Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen Owen Dr., where the Rev. Tommie Pierson is pastor. Pierson also is a state representative and chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.
Curtis, Erby and Bynes told media their group also included Ferguson Councilman Dwayne James, state Rep. Sharon Pace and state Rep. Rochelle Walton-Gray, also black Democrats. That does not include the African-American state senator for the area, state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City), who has been working out of the HealSTL office in Ferguson. Bynes has accused HealSTL founder Antonio French, an alderman from the city of St. Louis, of “political looting.”
The group also does not include the U.S. representative for the region, Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, also a black Democrat. While they said they had not talked to Clay about their efforts, Bynes did say, “I am sure he would be supportive of what we are doing.”
They said their goals are long-range and bent upon empowering the community. James is the only African American on Ferguson’s six-member City Council, despite the city’s 67 percent black majority. Mayor James Knowles III also is white, as is Police Chief Tom Jackson. Only three of the city’s 53 police officers are black. At a council meeting later on Tuesday evening, James appeared to be the only black representative in Ferguson government.
“People keep asking, ‘Where is the leadership?’” Erby said. “We’re here. Anybody who would like to join us, we welcome that.”
Bynes said some of the new political activity generated by the protest movement sparked by the police shooting of Michael Brown is getting ahead of itself.
“There is this talk of recalling the mayor,” Bynes said. “We need to slow down and take a few steps first. First we should go to the City Council and ask for a vote of confidence. We don’t want anybody to jump to conclusions. We need to start with very small steps.”
Curtis said their group was also building partnerships, such as with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and with two Greek organizations that would be working on voter registration.
“We’re very glad things are finally starting to settle down,” Bynes said. “What’s next is to listen to people – the people of Ferguson – and craft a plan.”
The group did not release a website address or any contact information at the press conference or in a handout given to media. Bynes is active on Twitter at @Patricialicious.
