The Rev. Osagyefo Sekou appeared in Ferguson Municipal Court on Tuesday, December 16 on a refusal to disperse charge – the first of a series of charges relating to his participation in non-violent civil disobedience acts. Sekou, of the First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, flew in late on the afternoon before to make his court appearance.
Sekou’s September arrest occurred while he knelt in prayer in front of armed police during what they described as an unlawful assembly at the Ferguson Police Department. His attorney, Jerryl T. Christmas, disagrees.
“The police arbitrarily call peaceful assemblies ‘unlawful assemblies’ so that they can start arresting people and squash people’s ability to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Christmas said.
Sekou was held for roughly 90 minutes in a blood-stained police van and let go after protestors demanded his release. Two weeks later, he was re-arrested along with Dr. Cornel West during a “Ferguson October” Moral Monday protest at the Ferguson Police Station.
“I will not submit to be charged with praying, nor do I accept the righteousness of the some 60 charges laid against those participating in the Moral Monday protests during Ferguson October,” Sekou said.
“The only signs of assault, disorderly conduct, and disturbance of the peace I saw that morning clearly came from the garrison of riot police protecting the state citadel from a group of singing, praying, peaceful clergy, seminarians and members of the community.”
After meeting with prosecutors on December 16, Christmas recommended that the case be dismissed. A continuance was issued for January 27, at which time, Sekou intends to plead not guilty and request that the case be moved from Ferguson Municipal Court to allow for a jury trial
“They really want to aggressively go after these cases rather than be conciliatory in any type of way,” Sekou said, adding that the municipal court system should be reformed.
It’s a sentiment Sekou shares with many. Looking around the courtroom, Sekou said he took notice of a group of mostly African Americans – some without lawyers – being ordered by a judge to pay costly fines.
“For me sitting in the court was an embodiment of what this movement has always said, ‘It is not just simply about a bad apple. It’s about a rotten system.’”
It’s a system Derek Laney, an organizer for Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, said his organization is trying to fix by challenging the system to change the way it deals with poor people.
“Poor folks are penalized for being poor,” Laney said.
He joined his friend in court – for support, he said. Laney is facing charges of his own. His most recent arrest came during protests after a St. Louis County grand jury’s non-indictment decision against former Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown Jr.
If there is a jury trial and Sekou is found guilty for praying, he is prepared to suffer the consequences. For him facing fines or jail time is the least he can do to show his solidarity with youth protest leaders, he said.
“You can put individuals in jail,” Sekou said, “but you can’t jail this movement.”
Follow this reporter: @BridjesONeil.
