The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America January-March 2015 - (Page 11)

racIal JusTIce Dispatches from Ferguson: A Two-Part Account of a Week in St. Louis by Nathan Watts Part 1: "From Dred Scott to Mike Brown!" "F rom Dred Scott to Mike Brown!"1 This was our chant as we stood atop the steps of the Federal Justice Building in downtown St. Louis. We were gathered to issue our own indictment, a charge from the people against the government for the powers' irresponsibility, to affirm the fact that Black Lives Matter, and have mattered, for centuries, for millennia. These steps were the tactical location for an action of massive civil disobedience the day after the anticipated non-indictment from a grand jury hearing some of the details of the shooting death of Michael Brown, Jr. We were led to this place by young black women, men and LGBTQ non-gender-conforming community leaders who are filled with a righteous discontent, empowered by their collective conquering of fear, and motivated by the realization that they can only protect their lives by risking everything. Most of the rest of us were eager to follow their impassioned leadership. "Back up! Back up! We want freedom, freedom! All these racist ass cops, we don't need 'em, need 'em!" "Indict! Convict! Send that killer cop to jail! The whole damn system is guilty as hell!" to publicize our resistance and the power of our unity. Though the occupation of the interstate by unarmed community members only lasted about 30 minutes, it was long enough for 15 people to be pepper-sprayed, five to be arrested and the crowd aggressively moved by the police. This brief action sparked inspiration and defiance in more than 130 cities across the United States. This was our response to what we saw as a farce of justice by Prosecutor McCulloch. No one had anticipated the decision being that cold and calculated, that hurtful, embarrassing and remorseless, that shameless. Is that justice? "JustUS in the US," spat in the face of a grieving and wounded community. These events truly highlighted the fact that there are at least two Americas-the power structure and the people. Or, more blatantly-those who sanction, perform and defend murder, and those who decry, lament and resist death in all its forms. And for my week in St. Louis, the gulf between the two were painfully evident, obviously in need of radical amendments and redistributions if a JustUS is actually something achievable or even truly desirable. Perhaps what grieves me the most is that the physical protection of Black bodies is the base requirement of an ethical (see "Dispatches" on page 14) You may find this shocking, but it was the chorus of the people as we marched from the Federal Building through downtown St. Louis to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge that connects Missouri to Illinois. Hundreds gathered there as we blocked intersections and linked arms, disrupting capital and complacency, directing our outrage and mourning at the police (who were beginning to dress in riot gear-helmets, shields, shin guards, batons, mace-and get into armoured cars) with a simple, humane plea: "Hands up! Don't Shoot!" Our next steps were perhaps our boldest that day, a walk up the Interstate 44 off-ramp Right: Protestors gather in front of the Department of Justice building in downtown St. Louis and prepare to march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. bridge. Photo by Gretchen Honnold. JAN-MAR 2015 Baptist Peacemaker 11

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America January-March 2015

No Longer Strangers: The BPFNA’s New Strategic Plan
A Reflection On Our Convictions & Motivation
Board Welcomes Kadia Edwards as Young Adult Representative
Baptists, Others Respond to Ebola Crisis
Gimme Shelter: My Vocation as a Peacemaker
Kidnapping of Students Leads to Outrage in Mexico
Parting Thoughts
With the Beating of Our Hearts: Bearing Witness to Other’s Pain
Dispatches from Ferguson: A Two-Part Account of a Week in St. Louis
The Gospel Is Not a Neutral Term: Excerpts from an Interview with Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Seko
Selma, 50 Years Later: A Memoir
Imaging, Journeying & Standing before One Creation, Part 1: Who Shaped My Image of Creation?
BPFNA Receives Grant for Justice Work on the US/Mexico Border
Central African Republic Rebel Groups Train for Peace
The Global Influence of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Resources & Opportunities
Keep It Real

The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America January-March 2015