Police and protesters clashed late Thursday after what began as a peaceful candlelight vigil at Ferguson Police Headquarters.
That afternoon, activist and local rapper Tef Poe called for the 8 p.m. vigil via Twitter to demand Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson’s resignation. Protesters issued the demand immediately following the release of a public video apology.
“No one who has not experienced the loss of a child can understand what you’re feeling,” Jackson said in the video produced by black-owned PR firm, the Devin James Group. “I’m truly sorry for the loss of your son.”
Protesters at the vigil said that Jackson’s apology came 47 days too late after Brown was fatally shot by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. Upon arriving at the vigil, Tef Poe – joined by Joshua Williams and others – hung a banner that read, “Chief Jackass Resign!” A police officer quickly confiscated the banner.
Several police officers set up barriers between them and vocal protesters, as more responding units arrived on the scene, including a canine unit. Responding units included St. Louis County and Florissant police departments and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Standing face-to-face with police officers protesters chanted, “Mike Brown means we’ve got to fight back!”
Small red lights glowed from body cameras as some police officers recorded their interactions with protesters. Protesters defied police orders and blocked traffic before Tef Poe led some on a march down N. Florissant Road to the beat of honking horns.
They chanted, “We young, we strong, we marching all night long!”
They stopped at the Corner Coffee House and Café and halted traffic at a four-way intersection on N. Florissant Road and Hereford Avenue before marching back to the police headquarters.
A motorist drove by and shouted, “Go home!”
Protesters were closely trailed by at least four police cruisers and a canine unit. White patrons at businesses in the historic downtown Ferguson district came out to observe and, at times, antagonized protesters. In response, police cruiser sirens blared and lights flashed – a signal to move on. Some stopped mid-march and, facing police, began to chant, “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” To keep the peace, Tef Poe urged protesters to regroup and keep walking.
Perhaps the most vocal of the group was Alexis Templeton, whose voice became strained from chanting. An ambulance responded to the scene on S. Florissant Road to tend to Templeton who had suffered a mild asthma attack.
Police at headquarters wore riot gear and their numbers had increased. Local police leaders MSHP Capt. Ron Johnson and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar were nowhere to be seen that night.
Chief Jackson who made a brief public appearance at about 10:49 p.m. His presence greatly excited the group and calls resumed for his resignation.
After brief remarks, Jackson agreed to march and stepped from behind barricades into the crowd of protesters, flanked by police officers. Chaos ensued. A YouTube video shows a black police officer instigating a confrontation with protesters. Protesters can be heard on the video yelling, “Don’t push me!”
The officer shoved Joshua Williams to the ground and choked him before he was arrested, protesters who witnessed the incident say. Police officers jumped barricades and formed a line in front of the offending officer, obstructing the view of citizens with the right to document police activity without interference.
Another line of police officers attempted to drive angry protesters back.
Freelance writer Umar Lee is seen on the same video simply standing and observing when he is grabbed and thrown to the ground and arrested. The offending officer was removed from the scene. Both Williams and Lee were taken to St. Ann Police Department.
“Josh has been badly beaten by the police and is at St. Ann while being denied medical help,” Tef Poe said via Twitter.
Friends of Lee said early Friday afternoon he was being held without charges.
Anthony Gray, co-counsel for the Brown family, arrived on the scene and was immediately shown the video. According to Gray, seven protesters were arrested last night including a hog-tied woman who was carried away in handcuffs by three police officers. Police claim that Jackson had been attacked, but cell phone video clearly shows Jackson walking ahead of where the altercation occurred.
“You won’t see any footage of Chief Jackson being attacked because there is none,” Tef Poe said via Twitter.
Follow this reporter on Twitter: @BridjesONeil. E-mail this reporter: boneil@stlamerican.com
The following report was posted Friday morning by Deray McKesson.
9.26.14
An Open Letter From Ferguson Protestors:
We write to reflect on the hiring/firing of PR consultant Devin James and the actions of Chief Jackson, all occurring on Thursday, September 25th. On Thursday, September 25th, the City of Ferguson fired Devin James, the man hired to manage public relations for the City in the wake of Michael Brown’s murder at the hands of Officer Darren Wilson. Mr. James was then fired because it came to light that he was convicted of reckless homicide in 2004. It has come to our attention that the City of Ferguson knew about this previous conviction but
hired him in an attempt to ‘give Mr. James a second chance.’
In a world where African American men are systematically placed into the criminal justice system and then denied employment based on past charges, we actually applaud the thought of city’s original intent in hiring Mr. James, though we questioned his public relations tactics at times. However, firing Mr. James once the news of his previous conviction came to public attention, despite knowing of this record before hiring him, is yet another example of the lack of integrity and sense of honor in City leadership. If the City of Ferguson was going to give Mr. James a ‘second chance,’ then they should have done so without reprieve, and stood by Mr. James once this news became public.
We can only suspect that the City of Ferguson planned to hide this information from the public – another cover-up and an intentional pattern of secrecy displayed by City leadership.
Whether or not we agreed with Mr. James’ approach, we believe this once again displays the corroded moral fiber of the leadership in the City of Ferguson we have seen for over 48 days now. On the same day of Mr. James’ termination, a video of Chief Thomas Jackson reciting a scripted apology to Michael Brown’s family and to protestors was released. The video did more harm than good. The apology was 48 days too late, should have occurred in person, and should have been authentic and heartfelt.
A 6 week old scripted video is unacceptable and disrespects the depth of pain in this community.
Protestors decided to peacefully protest these and other actions of Chief Jackson’s outside of the Ferguson Police Department on Thursday night, the site of peaceful assemblies and civic actions since August 9. During this time, in an unnecessary act of clear provocation and intimidation, officers ripped down the banner that protestors had displayed at their protest site. On Thursday evening, Chief Jackson came to the sidewalk in front of the Ferguson Police Department parking lot to speak with peaceful protestors angry with him and with the police. He was criticized for his apology and for his actions since August 9, 2014. Upon being asked to march with the protestors, Chief Jackson agreed. He crossed the police line and began marching. Several peaceful protesters marched very closely to him to ensure his protection and peace amongst the crowd. People marching included peaceful protestors and members of the media. Chief Jackson told the police officers lined up to stand down.
Less than 90 seconds after the march began, a few police officers ran into the group of protestors from behind and began grabbing people.
Seconds later, nearly all of the police officers present stormed the crowd of protestors, most of them in riot gear. During this brief but peaceful march, lawful protestors also report a staff member of Faracai Pizza North, who was inside the business after it had closed for the evening, came outside of the establishment.
During this time, he pointed a gun directly at peaceful protestors, another act of threat and intimidation, this time at the hands of a fellow citizen. At the time of this letter, we have heard he has not been arrested.
Prior to the violent officer interruption of this peaceful march, Chief Jackson was not harmed in any way. There is video that proves this fact. Video evidence also shows police officers storming the peaceful protestors unprovoked. The guilty police officers kicked, grabbed, shoved, and hit peaceful protestors with their hands and batons. Seven peaceful, lawful protestors were arrested. One of these protestors was Joshua Williams, an area 18-year-old active in peaceful assemblies. Police officers beat and choked Joshua and slammed him into the ground before arresting him. He was denied medical treatment.
Another peaceful protestor, Coco, was picked up and slammed into the ground repeatedly before being carried off by several police officers, her body limp.
Police officers arrested Umar Lee, a citizen journalist, and hit his head on concrete before arresting him. Despite carrying out these atrocious human rights violations,
the police continued to threaten and intimidate lawful protestors.
Peaceful protesters were told that if we remained on one side of the street (leaving one lane open) the people arrested would be released. The arrested protestors were, apparently, also told this. Several of them had their phones with them while they were held in vans behind the Ferguson police station. Despite promises, no one was released from custody. Officers then said that if we got out of the street, they would release the protestors. Again, protesters who had been arrested were apparently told the same thing. We complied again. And again, no one was released. Arrested protesters were eventually transferred to another jail. Several were still denied medical treatment. As of the writing of this letter, only one arrested protestor has been released.
Police attempted to hold the unlawfully arrested and abused protestors hostage in undeserved lockup, and promised their freedom in exchange for the rest of us leaving the protest site.
Based on the injustice of this exchange and lack of grounds for the arrests, we peacefully refused.
Chief Jackson’s actions and the failure of those of the men in his charge to follow orders have caused further injury, unnecessary harm and detainment, and put more lives at risk.
Given the unprovoked brutality present throughout this crisis and displayed once again last evening,
we conclude that none of these police officers should be working in law enforcement anywhere, until they can do so in a professional manner
, follow orders, and truly protect and serve all those who step foot in Ferguson. It is an issue of public safety and basic respect for human dignity. In Protest, Ferguson
Note: This was written and edited by several protesters during the morning after the events.
