MO - Grief & protests follow shooting of teen Michael Brown #17

[popsicle]

The city’s first council meeting since the killing of Michael Brown was held Tuesday at the Greater Grace Church in Ferguson and was attended by more than 600 people — many of them angry.

The meeting even began with a plea from a preacher.

“Remember you are still in the house of God,” said Bishop L.O. Jones, the church’s founder. “The Bible has a verse: ‘Be angry and sin not.’”

But nothing, it seemed, could quiet the rage.

Shouting erupted during the Pledge of Allegiance, during the phrase “and justice for all.”

“For all!” many cried.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_717e025c-fffc-5132-aa06-9886b8bc667d.html

 

[Klood-N]

I don't believe anyone who witnessed the council meeting last night would believe it had anything to do with ID requirements. Michael Brown did not die due to ID requirements.

 

[jjenny]

I don't see anything in that article about how many elderly people want to vote but are unable to because of lack of photo ID. Nor do I see anything about how the Missouri ID requirements affect black voter participation in Ferguson.

If one in five over 65 don't have an ID, then you can figure out that one in five won't be able to vote if ID is required. No?
Seems simple enough to me.

 

[Elley Mae]

Brown supporters say they'll escalate civil-disobedience actions, including blocking highways, until their demands are met.

"I have every confidence that, come Wednesday, Anthony [Shahid] is going to make sure that highway is shut down," Vickers says.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/da..._for_new_prosecutor_in_michael_brown_case.php

 

[Elley Mae]

Just a note about post 148 no where did I see the word blog when linking. If not acceptable please delete. jmo tia

 

[reedus23]

Photo voter ID cards are FREE in VA and yet this is seen as a way to suppress the minority, elderly and poor vote.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...1d625e-1dbe-11e4-82f9-2cd6fa8da5c4_story.html

http://www.gotidvirginia.org/

Not arguing whether it is necessary, appropriate, reasonable or not, but any restriction on voting rights is still a restriction. Personally, I don't like restrictions on voting rights of all things but at the same time I comprehend the need to work within the current framework if you want effect change. In other words, complaining about it does no good. Get registered under the current requirements and vote for leaders whose views mirror your own and if that means changing voting requirements to eliminate restrictions, then vote for those leaders that are willing to try to effect that change.

 

[popsicle]

Brown supporters say they'll escalate civil-disobedience actions, including blocking highways, until their demands are met.

"I have every confidence that, come Wednesday, Anthony [Shahid] is going to make sure that highway is shut down," Vickers says.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/da..._for_new_prosecutor_in_michael_brown_case.php

This is going to be a klusterf@&k like in the beginning days. jmo

 

[Peliman]

Brown supporters say they'll escalate civil-disobedience actions, including blocking highways, until their demands are met.

"I have every confidence that, come Wednesday, Anthony [Shahid] is going to make sure that highway is shut down," Vickers says.

Just a note to the protesters

[h=2]Disturbing the Peace[/h]People in Missouri commit the crime of disturbing the peace by disturbing or upsetting other people with:

• loud noises
• offensive language directed at a specific person and likely to provoke a violent response
• threats to commit a felony under circumstances where the victim is likely to believe the threat could be carried out
• fighting, or
• creating an offensive odor.

For example, a teenager who lights a smoke bomb in an inhabited school restroom could be charged with disturbing the peace.
[h=3]Blocking traffic[/h]A person also commits disturbing the peace by being on another person’s property or on property that is open to the public, such as a store or park, and purposely inconveniencing others by blocking people from moving freely or stopping traffic. A homeless person sleeping on and blocking the sidewalk could be arrested and prosecuted for disturbing the peace.

http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/disorderly-conduct-missouri.htm

 

[reedus23]

I don't even think they care. Are they stopping it on foot or also with vehicles, anyone know?

Not sure. I could be dead wrong on this so take it with a grain of salt, but if I remember correctly back in 1999 when they did it in an organized fashion, it was on foot. I believe LE actually stopped traffic up ahead of the protesters and then also made some arrests of people who sat on the highway. Could be wrong on that but that seems like a pretty reasonable response by LE. Protect peoples' safety both drivers and protesters alike frankly. But also arrest those breaking the law in order to make a statement.

 

[bettybaby00]

What's so difficult? Have you tried getting it recently? In some places you have to wait hours in line to get an ID. If you are elderly, it's physically exhausting.
And you might have no means of even getting to an ID place if you don't drive. As many elderly don't.

I recently had to get new passports for my 2 minor children. It's a pretty involved process as it all has to be done in person, and requires a good deal of documentation and paperwork to be filled out. Your kids have to accompany you, and if your spouse/other parent can't be there with you, you'll also need a notorized letter from your spouse stating they authorize the application for a passport.

It doesn't take more than 15 minutes to find out whats needed, and to also find out the best time to go to the post office with the least amount of wait time. By making a couple of phone calls I found out that going during the day on a Monday or Tuesday would mean my wait time wouldn't be more than 15 minutes or so....versus Thursday, Friday, and Saturday which would mean waiting for hours.

 

[BunnyHop]

There would have been many arrests if that meeting was held here- or many other cities in this country.

I agree. All meetings are never a "free for all"
Council here allows brief speaking, they don't answer. Just saying.

Does anyone have a video of the meeting? TIA

 

[jjenny]

I asked about how many want to vote but are unable to due to lack of photo ID. Mostly, if they cared about voting, they'd have a photo ID, no?

And don't forget that absentee ballot provisions typically allow invalids, those in nursing homes, etc., to vote by mail.

Even in states with a photo ID requirement for voting, the "burden" imposed by the voting requirements are so negligible that almost no one who actually wants to vote is unable to.

If they cared about voting, they would have a photo ID? Why would they have a photo ID, if it wasn't required until these new voter ID laws? Were they supposed to have been psychic to realize that even though photo ID was not required for them to vote, it would be in the future?

 

[Elley Mae]

Not sure about these.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFOmjO43Ycc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHWOmwRLroM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS1p7Z44LMA

 

[Klood-N]

Crime Commissioner responds to his e-mail about possibly burning Ferguson City Hall



http://fox2now.com/2014/09/09/crime...il-about-possibly-burning-ferguson-city-hall/

The conversation is contained in a 38 page email sent to all St. Louis Media. It’s titled ‘Civil Disobedience Shutdown of Interstate 70,’ then this comment ‘Anything short of arresting that White cop for murder is an insult to Black people and Ferguson city Hall and Police department needs to burn to the ground!!!’

I posed this to Thompson, ‘Your statement, as strong as it is, and other words that are being used like `demands` and `non-negotiable` seem to send the message there`s not an interest in the process and finding new evidence or new truths, that there`s just an interest in one result.’

It is not ok to act on something that obviously is going to be a threat in violence

Wow.

So, Tony stated he's biased. I think he should lose his position on the Crime Commission. I don't believe for one minute "burn it to the ground" was metaphorical. Not given that the QuickTrip was burned down, and the rioters tried to burn down the BBQ restaurant and threw Molotov cocktails. At best, it's grossly irresponsible particularly in his position. And as Vickers acknowledged, it is a threat of violence. I'm glad the police have that email and may be investigating.

Well, if these are respected leaders in this community (SMH), maybe Thompson saying they'll have to accept it if the verdict doesn't go the way they want (or I think that's what he meant to say) may help.

Glad to see actual reporting on this case. Kudos to this reporter for asking the tough questions that many seem to be ignoring.

I wonder what Obama thought when he received it, both as President and a former community organizer?

 

[sonjay]

If they cared about voting, they would have a photo ID? Why would they have a photo ID, if it wasn't required until these new voter ID laws? Were they supposed to have been psychic to realize that even though photo ID was not required for them to vote, it would be in the future?

Photo ID requirements aren't passed in secret and suddenly sprung on people at the polling place. They have plenty of time to get the required ID.

I think it was pointed out above that the people in Ferguson are complaining about both getting too many traffic tickets and not being allowed to vote. If they're getting traffic tickets, they already have, or should have, a driver license.

And anyway, in last night's meeting, they weren't complaining about proposed photo ID requirements. They were complaining that even under Missouri's current requirements they're somehow not being allowed to vote. Or something. "Let my people vote." Newsflash: Nobody's been stopping them from voting.

 

[BunnyHop]

Antonio French: 9 Out of 10 Black Ferguson Voters Don’t Vote



http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/08/29/a...dont-vote/

 

[Trident]

Is that a big issue for the elderly over 65? Traveling out of the country?

It can be. Many retired people DO travel out of the country. I had to stand in that line for a passport, but, once again I did it. It's amazing what people can do when they want something bad enough.

 

[reedus23]

Don't know this guy and didn't read his article close enough to say I agree or disagree with him. However, what does jump out at me is that if some of the activists wanted to make a statement that might have a lasting impact, instead of blocking a highway, hold organized events to educate people on their voting rights, and particularly their right to recall their various leaders. It would seem to me that if they accomplished that, it would make as much or more of a statement than blocking a highway for 5 minutes.

 

[SStarr33]

If they cared about voting, they would have a photo ID? Why would they have a photo ID, if it wasn't required until these new voter ID laws? Were they supposed to have been psychic to realize that even though photo ID was not required for them to vote, it would be in the future?

Why can't they do absentee voting? And how do they stand in those long voter lines if they can't stand in those long id lines?

 

[sonjay]

The conversation is contained in a 38 page email sent to all St. Louis Media. It’s titled ‘Civil Disobedience Shutdown of Interstate 70,’ then this comment ‘Anything short of arresting that White cop for murder is an insult to Black people and Ferguson city Hall and Police department needs to burn to the ground!!!’

‘Anything short of arresting that White cop for murder is an insult to Black people and Ferguson city Hall and Police department needs to burn to the ground!!!’

Tony Thompson, founder of Kwame Construction and member of the Regional Crime Commission wrote those words. Activist Eric Vickers responded, ‘Right On!’

Thompson agreed to come to FOX 2 to talk about it. He said, ‘I`ll apologize for the language of it because it certainly was not my intent to incite any type of violence, but I use the metaphor `burn down` as the metaphor for `disbanded.`’
​

That doesn't sound like any metaphor I've ever met. He meant exactly what he said, and he's unfit for the position he holds.