Some St. Louis area ministers in African Methodist Episcopal Church are praying for peace, preparation and no more bloodshed if the grand jury does not indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who shot unarmed teenager Michael Brown to death on August 9.
Area AME pastors, members and friends gathered at Ward Chapel AME Church in Florissant, Missouri Sunday evening for an appreciation service for Presiding Elder Edmund Lowe.
Afterward, clergy members called for its membership and the public to:
1) Stay calm if the grand jury decides not to indict,
2) Call St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s office, beginning Monday morning (Nov. 10) at 314-615-4746.
“Tell Mr. McCulloch or whoever is answering to guide the grand jury correctly,” said Rev. Spencer Booker, pastor of St. Paul AME Church in S. Louis. “Remind him of the pain of injustice that can be thrust upon our senior citizens, our children, our families, our employers … besides the residents of Ferguson and the economic impact of that can particularly rob our city of its stabilization and its tranquilization.”
3) Remain legal in activities civil protests and civil disobedience in Ferguson, St. Louis and America.
The fourth request was directed at area police, to demilitarize its preparedness and allow citizens to exercise their First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech and assembly.
For the home, clergy asked everyone to stock up on medication, food, water, working flashlights, batteries and to keep vehicle filled with fuel in case access to basic services and necessities are interrupted due to unrest.
Four AME churches in St. Louis City will open as safe havens 24 hours after the grand jury announcement.
“St. Luke’s-Elmwood Park, St. James, St. Paul and St. Peters AME will all be open as spots for safe sanctuary,” said Rev. Renita Lampkin, pastor of St. John AME Church in St. Charles, Missouri. “The churches will have food available if people need to come in off the street and find respite. There will be people who will provide comfort and offer a sense of community.”
“The churches will remain open 24 hours a day for the first 72 hours,” said President Elder Edmund Lowe.
The announcement of the grand jury decision is expected in mid- to late-November.