(before you read on TW Police Brutality, Murder, Shootings, Racism, Anti-Black Racism)
If you have not heard, this past week the Grand Jury made the decision not to indict Darren Wilson, a cop who shot an 18 year old black boy at least six times (twice in the head), for reasons which in my opinion are based clearly in institutionalized racism ingrained in the training of cops, though which he would argue are that Brown reached for his gun and punched him in the face. However, there is TONS of evidence to make me question any of Wilson's testimony; like the fact that he didn't file an incident report after he literally shot someone to death (giving him all the months up until the grand jury decision to weave a story), the fact that he left the body for 4 and a half hours lying in the street, the fact that wounds in Brown's arms make it clear that his arms were up when he was shot (and eyewitnesses agree), the fact that Wilson testified that he feared for his life from the beating Brown gave him, but has only a small bruise on his right cheek, and MUCH MUCH MORE.
The failure of indictment is an absolute TRAVESTY; there was clear and reasonable doubt among the evidence presented, and yet there was no indictment. After this news hit, a wave of protests began. All the way from Ferguson (where the shooting occurred), to Oakland, California, to New York, to Washington DC, even to London, England! And these protests are not only about Michael Brown. These protests are about needing to put a stop to police brutality against black men. The use of violence against black men is extremely disproportionate to the use of force against white individuals (see the chart below for examples).
There have been some AMAZING photos shared of these incredibly brave individuals protesting for their right to LIVE quite literally, and some amazing posts and points being made all over tumblr.
Ferguson Artist Damon Davis created beautiful wall art inspired by the "Hands Up Don't Shoot" chant that protesters have been using because Michael Brown was shot with his arms up (clearly a sign of surrender) (Source)
Both black and white images above from Chicago Protests. Photos by Lawrence Agyei
Roses on the street where Michael Brown was shot.
CultureHISTORY: Faces Of #Ferguson - November 2014
Protesters trying to protect their mouths/throats from tear gas. Ferguson, MO.
CultureHISTORY: Faces Of #Ferguson - November 2014
CultureHISTORY: Faces Of #Ferguson - November 2014
These amazing and beautiful "Black Lives Matter" photos have been circulating, and they are extremely powerful. (Source)
Image out of Ferguson, Missouri at 10 PM on November 24th, 2014
Michael Brown's mother after hearing the Grand Jury decision. (Source)
By artist Pheobie Wahl (link)
Protests in DC (Source)
Protesters wave an upside-down American flag after blocking an intersection.
People are calling this the Tank Man of the 21st century.
A "dead-in" where protesters lay on the ground for four and a half minutes to symbolize the four and a half hours brown was left in the street dead. Washington, DC (Source)
Black Lives Matter Ferguson, November 25, Photo by Daily Sabah
From the Protests in London (Source)
So, WHAT CAN YOU DO??
Donate: to the ferguson food bank (without school a lot of kids are not getting meals), the public library, and here's a masterpost of other places to donate to.
Call your racist friends out: this is the time for white people (like myself) to be good white allies--call people out on their shit. Also, if someone's spouting racist stuff on twitter, tumblr, facebook, etc, you can call their job and straight up get them fired. Here's a masterpost of other things you can do.
stay safe, stay woke
xx
Maya
