Ferguson Shooting Protests: Cornel West, Dozens of Protesters Arrested During 'Moral Monday' Demonstrations
Protesters faced drenching rain as they rallied in St. Louis on Monday, demanding justice for Michael Brown, the unarmed teenager who was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri a little over two months ago.
A string of protesters in the St. Louis suburb ignited shortly after the 18-year-old African-American boy was fatally shot by white police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. Wilson says that he opened fire after Brown reached for his weapon. However several eye witnesses testify that Brown was shot execution style while he was surrendering with his hands in the air. A grand jury is currently deciding whether or not to prosecute Wilson.
Over 50 people, including renowned political activist Cornel West, were arrested during the series of peaceful protests held on "Moral Monday" in Ferguson, reports CNN affiliate KMOV-TV. The protests attracted a wide bevy of ministers and out-of-town activists.
According to St. Louis County Police Department spokesman Shawn McGuire, West and 42 others were detained at the Ferguson Police Department protest site after they tried to push through a police line.
In addition to the march, protesters also staged protests at the St. Louis City hall and two Walmarts. Some even held up a banner that read "black lives matter" at a St. Louis Rams football game.
"This is a historic day," said Mervyn Marcano, a spokesman for "Ferguson October," according to Reuters.
"I'm taking a step forward now. I'm not resisting arrest. I'm going to step forward. I demand to meet with Ferguson authorities. I want to demand justice for Mike Brown," said Communist Party representative Carl Dix as he was taken into police custody.
One demonstrator said he saw two troopers get emotional while the activists and ministers prayed and preached during acts of civil disobedience.
"We had a couple police officers crying. You've got pastors in front of you and people praying and they were feeling that," said Aaron Burnett of the Organization for Black Struggle.
"My faith compels me to be here," Bishop Wayne Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri said to WPVI-TV. "I want to show solidarity, and call attention to the structural racism of St. Louis."
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