Following the murder of Michael Brown on August 9th, the streets of Ferguson, MO were flooded. Flooded largely with the voices and presence of young black and brown women and men refusing to allow the denial of epidemic violence against their communities. Across the globe millions watched in alarm and began expressing signs of solidarity as the Ferguson protests were met by an excessively militarized and brutal police response.
As tear gas canisters flew with force, fired by officers brandishing gear and protected by armored vehicles provided by the Department of Defense, so too did statements and offerings of support begin to rain in. Thousands of miles away, the commonalities were all too apparent, in Gaza. Twitter feeds began to fill with the messages of support from Palestinians who quickly identified with the experience of violently oppressive forces, racism and bigotry.
Through the clouds of tear gas and the rolling of armored vehicles, Palestinians and marginalized communities around the globe saw the connection between these oppressive forces. Palestinians quickly took to social media and offered tips to Ferguson on how they resist the violence of the Israeli occupation. These mechanisms of destruction didn’t come from nowhere either; they too were bought and paid for by the United States. The latest assault on Gaza left over 2,000 Palestinians dead including 500 children prompting condemnation by peace activists across the globe. As activist and believers in peace and social justice, it is our moral obligation to fight these same systems of racism and violence at home and abroad.
As CODEPINK we will answer the call for support from the people of Ferguson, in recognition that police misconduct and institutional racism anywhere is an affront to peace and justice everywhere. On Friday October 10th we will converge in Ferguson Missouri standing in support and solidarity, denouncing all forms of oppression and state violence. We will gather for ‘A Weekend of Resistance’:
Friday:
12pm: CODEPINK Check-in and Sign Building at Hands Up United.
3pm: Protest at Prosecuting Attorneys Office in Clayton, MO. (Buzz Westfall Justice Center)
7pm: Support Panel: War at Home, War Abroad: Militarization and Surveillance (Friends Meeting House)
8pm: Remembrance to Action (9200 W. Florrisant Ave.)
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Gather at the Ofrenda to read off names and/or place things on the altar to remember individuals (A candle, a picture, a memento or message.)
9:30pm: Silent candlelight march carrying a glass coffin from the offrenda site to the Ferguson Police Department.
11pm: Curfew. “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?”
Saturday:
9am: Breakfast with CODEPINK.
10am: Justice for All: National March and Rally in Downtown St. Louis. (Scott Trade Center)
3pm: Ferguson FoodSpark: “Dinner with a slice of race, Class, and privilege (Library Parking Lot, RSVP)
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Many shy away from having difficult conversations about race, class and privilege. Yet these conversations are essential to dismantling racist and oppressive systems. This event will help facilitate the conversation with food, community and trained facilitators.
Sunday:
9am: Womens Caucus.
3pm: Action planning. (Location TBA)
7pm: Hip-Hop and Hope (St. Louis University’s Chaifetz Arena)
Monday:
TBA: Support Palestine contingent action focused on a target highlighting intersections of militarized policing in Ferguson and Palestine.
Please email [email protected] to RSVP.