They Chased Us Through the Streets

UPDATE:

Tonight, November 23, in light of the imminent announcement of the grand jury’s decision, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church is opening its doors as a reflection/sanctuary space – 2310 E Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri 7pm

If you have thoughts, questions, reflections, or want to get more involved, please click here: https://docs.google.com/a/cco.org/forms/d/16aoKHQ00IqXUoa9hBG8HX8DJ5H2TOK6qiO8c69L_2F0/viewform

Original post:

I’m writing this to you from Ferguson, Missouri.

Our team has been here for days, working with the faith community and local allies in St. Louis, as well as our brothers and sisters at the PICO National Network. The family, the local community, and people of conscience from all around the world are seeking answers and justice.

This week has been one of the hardest I’ve encountered in my decade of organizing.

[Click here to join the faith community’s response]

On Sunday, as local youth conducted a voter registration drive and peaceful families marched down the street in the early evening air, police suddenly charged in hard, firing tear gas and flash grenades. It was completely inappropriate and unnecessary.

People were enveloped by the smoke as the crowd ran, and some brave young people stopped to help others get to safety, even though they were being burned by the gas.

We streamed away in chaos, eyes and lungs burning from the smoke. Confused, sad, and angry.

None of this had to happen.

Our leaders have faced choices in how to respond to this tragedy.

They chose to vilify a teenager who lay dead in the street.

They chose to antagonize a grieving and outraged community.

They chose to fire tear gas at peaceful protestors, and to attack and arrest journalists who were doing their job.

But the faith community also faces a choice.

The question we have been asking at CCO is this: As people of faith, what is our responsibility in this moment? How will we respond?

[Click here to join the faith community’s response]

Gov. Nixon has one thing right: The eyes of the world are on us.

Here are three big ways you can help:

1) March with clergy from across the state this Wednesday evening in St. Louis. One thousand youth and clergy will demand justice in this case and action from the county prosecutor. More details to come, RSVP here.

[UPDATE]

TIME: 6:30 PM CDT Clergy and participant arrival; March at 7:00 PM CDT

LOCATION:
Start Point—Schnuck’s at Ladue Crossing at 8867 Ladue Road, marching to County Prosecutor McCullough’s Office – 100 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO, 63105. Park as close to Ladue Road as possible.

2) Donate to the campaign – staff and volunteer leaders are working around the clock with local community members and allies. Your support is fueling those efforts. (Be sure to select “Lifelines to Healing” under additional information)

3) Organize a prayer vigil in your community. If you cannot join us in St. Louis, raise your voice and your prayers where you are.

If you have ideas or reflections, or if there is another way you would like to get involved, please let us know here: http://tiny.cc/ccoferg

The faith community is playing a vital role in Ferguson. Together we will confront the hard racial truths facing our society. We will proclaim a vision of a society with human dignity firmly at the center of public life. And we will bring together a community response that will offer healing and justice to a people who desperately need both.

I will be thinking about this week for the rest of my life.

I pray fervently that we are up to the challenge ahead of us.

Thank you for everything you are doing,

Damon

Damon Daniel
Regional Organizing Director
Communities Creating Opportunity

 Want to make a financial contribution to our work? Click here to donate online.