Civil Rights attorney Benjamin L. Crump along with attorney Anthony Gray will represent the family of Michael Brown Jr., an unarmed 18-year-old shot multiple times and killed by a Ferguson police officer on Saturday.
Crump is most notable for representing the family of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. On the steps of the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, Crump addressed both local and national media today urging the community to remain calm.
Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton stood behind Crump. Sharpton was flanked by Michael Brown Jr.’s parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden. Michael Brown Sr. wore a black T-shirt that bore his son’s image as a baby. Also in attendance was the uncle of Oscar Grant III, another unarmed African-American young man shot and killed by a transit police officer five years earlier. His death went on to inspire last year’s motion film Fruitvale Station.
Crump mentioned the arrests of over a dozen people for unlawful assembly.
Crump said, “We understand that these individuals were arrested because they held their hands up and said, ‘Don’t shoot me for walking! Don’t shoot me because I’m black!’”
He said that under the Constitution of the United States the people have a right to assemble and address their grievances. He made it clear that Michael Brown Jr.’s parents have not asked for anyone to be disrespectful, irresponsible, and violent—even if the Ferguson Police Department refuse to release the name of the officer involved in the shooting.
The department said yesterday that the officer’s name would be released during a news conference at noon today, but a spokesperson for Ferguson Police now say that the officer will not be identified due to safety concerns. Not releasing the officer’s name is not an act of transparency and it certainly doesn’t build the community’s confidence, Crump said. He went on to say that the family wants the name of the officer released and they want to know why the officer felt the need to execute Michael Brown Jr.
Gray expects to have a transparent and open investigation into the tragic circumstances surrounding Michael Brown Jr.’s death. Gray pleaded with the public to come forward with any information or evidence that could assist investigators and “satisfy a nationwide curiosity,” he said.
Rev. Sharpton spoke with the parents prior to today’s press conference and said the family wants justice and fairness. He said no one has the right to drag Michael Brown’s name through the mud. To become violent in Michael Brown’s name is to betray the “gentle giant” that he was, he said. He asked people to respect Michael Brown’s grieving parents.
“Some of us are making the story [about] how mad we are rather than how promising he was,” he said.
Rev. Sharpton wants the federal government to step in—not only as a partner, he said.
“But become the ones that deal with this case,” he said. “The local authorities have put themselves in a position where people will not trust anything but an objective investigation.”
He said they did not come to divide the city, but rather to bring the city on one accord.
“If you’re angry throw your arms up,” Sharpton said. “If you want justice, throw your arms up because that’s the sign that Michael was using.”
Michael Brown Sr. spoke briefly asking the public to come together in the “right way” with no violence.
A peace gathering will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen Owen Dr.
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