Ferguson Faith Leaders Take To The Streets, March With Protestors

[cbayer]

http://thinkprogress.org/home/2014/08/14/3471361/faith-groups-ferguson/

BY JACK JENKINS
POSTED ON AUGUST 14, 2014 AT 9:24 PM UPDATED: AUGUST 14, 2014 AT 11:42 PM


CREDIT: MIKE ANGELL

A group of local clergy and religious faithful took to the streets of Ferguson, Missouri on Thursday evening, joining a mass of peaceful protestors to vent frustration over the fatal shooting of an unarmed teen on August 9.

Sporting clerical collars and brandishing signs inscribed with slogans such as “We are praying with our feet” and “End police brutality,” pastors and priests filed in with hundreds of other Ferguson residents to decry the killing of Michael Brown. Brown, an 18-year-old African American high school graduate from Ferguson, was killed this past weekend after a local police officer allegedly shot him several times — even though Brown was reportedly unarmed.

“We came with a Bible in one hand, and a protest sign in the other,” Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ, told the marchers.

The action by faith leaders came about after the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition held an “emergency meeting” on Thursday to discuss ways to address the growing crisis of violence in Ferguson. When Brown’s tragic death sparked spontaneous demonstrations by Ferguson residents earlier this week, a frighteningly militarized police force responded by pelting the protestors with smoke bombs, tear gas canisters, and rubber bullets. Among various other disturbing encounters, the rash of violence included an incident where a local pastor was shot in the abdomen with a rubber bullet while peacefully chanting “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

more at link

[KG]

1. once it was safe...

[E_Pluribus_Unitarian]

2. Yep, after it was safe...

"...Renita Lamkin, an African Methodist Episcopal church pastor, told The Huffington Post that she was "standing in the middle of the street, with people behind me, and the police were in front of me." Lamkin said she was attempting to mediate between police and protesters the demonstration and told the police, "They're moving, they're leaving." "And then there was a pop!" she said, as a rubber bullet struck her stomach.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/ferguson-pastor-shot-police-rubber-bullet_n_5678973.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

[cbayer]

3. From what I have been reading, it's never been safe for certain parts of the

population in this community.

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here.