Dozens gathered inside Wellspring Church in Ferguson on Sunday, February 22 to celebrate the 11th annual Rosa Parks State Observance with the St. Louis County NAACP.
The County NAACP honored former state Rep. Betty L. Thompson, activist Charles Wade, Pastor Traci Blackmon and Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson.
Thompson received the Rosa Parks Award for Lifetime Achievement for a long career in public service, including becoming the first African American to serve on University City’s City Council. A former activist herself, she was arrested in 1988 in Washington, D.C. for protesting against apartheid in South Africa.
“Betty has always stood her ground and fought for the beliefs and the betterment of others, very much in the spirit of Rosa Parks,” said St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger.
Berkeley Mayor Theodore Hoskins served with Thompson in the Missouri State House of Representatives in the early 2000s. Hoskins said Thompson was “undoubtedly one of the most effective leaders in our community and she has dedicated all of her life to uplift her people.”
Captain Ron Johnson appeared in Ferguson to accept his Rosa Parks Community Leadership Award after a period of absence from the spotlight. Following a warm welcome of applause, Johnson humbly began his acceptance speech acknowledging the Ferguson protestors.
“I know we are at this moment of history because of the young people’s energy, courage and because of them awakening us,” Johnson said.
“My heart is full. I’m fighting back the tears because I don’t feel worthy of this award, but I feel so proud to have stood with this community and walked down the streets of West Florissant. I know we have a brighter tomorrow and a brighter promise.”
Charles Wade, co-founder of the Ferguson protestor support organization Operation Help or Hush, also received a Rosa Parks Community Leadership Award.
Although Wade is not a Missouri resident, he founded Operation Help or Hush with his friend Tasha Burton, a Ferguson resident, and both have been instrumental in providing support to protestors.
“I’m not from Ferguson, I’m not from St. Louis, but I am a friend of Ferguson and a friend of St. Louis,” Wade said. “I think that the work that we have done here is just to be a friend and love people through this time.”
The NAACP has been criticized during the Ferguson protest movement by the youth who said they were not engaged and had lost sight of the struggle. Wade challenged older NAACP members “to make themselves available” because “so much of the youth does not know you care.”
Pastor Traci Blackmon, pastor at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant and a member of the Ferguson Commission, also received a Rosa Parks Community Leadership Award, but was unable to attend because weather conditions kept her in New York City, where she had traveled for another engagement.
Keynote speaker Pamela Meanes, president of the National Bar Association, thanked the youth for “waking lawyers up.”
“We must admit,” Meanes said, “we were asleep.”
This story was published as part of a partnership between The St. Louis American and The Huffington Post, www.huffingtonpost.com.
