Worcester MA Voices of Ferguson MO
Panelist: Keesha, Fiona, Gordon, Sonya, Robert, Michael
Ferguson discussion comes to Clark
LaTanya Buck spoke both as an activist, and a mother at the "Voices of Ferguson/Voices of Worcester — Mediating Peace in our Community: Creating Safety & Responsibility for All" event at Clark University on Saturday. (MICHELLE SHEPPARD)
WORCESTER — Two prominent educators from St. Louis who were featured speakers at a "Voices of Ferguson/Voices of Worcester" conference at Clark University on Saturday said there is great anxiety in the St. Louis suburb as a grand jury deliberates the case of the white police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager.
However, the tension is less about whether the St. Louis County grand jury will indict Officer Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown after ordering the 18-year-old and a friend to stop walking in a street in Ferguson on Aug. 9. Rather, it is about what will happen after the decision is announced. Protests erupted in Ferguson after Mr. Brown's death.
The grand jury decision could come any day. There are reports that law enforcement authorities are preparing thousands of officers to be ready.
"It's a high anxiety moment that is causing even more fears for people," said Stefan Bradley, an author and professor at St. Louis University. "In my mind this is as close to hysteria as I've ever seen."
For the decision itself, "I think we all know what's coming down but it's a matter of waiting," said LaTanya Buck, director for the Center of Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. "Speaking for myself, I don't envision a positive outcome is what I'll say. And I'm fearful for what that means to the St. Louis community and for what that means to the black community," she said.
"I would say that people have the sense that Officer Wilson won't be indicted," said Mr. Bradley. There are many African-Americans who have come to expect police officers to be found not guilty at trials in related cases, Mr. Bradley observed. "But the part that cuts the deepest is that this officer won't go to court at all."
The governor of Missouri has appeared flanked with police officers, emphasizing the need for safety, Mr. Bradley said.
"That indicates to me there will not be an indictment and people should prepare for a police force that is more prepared for protesters — and that is frightening."
Ms. Buck and Mr. Bradley were being interviewed prior to the opening of Saturday's daylong conference organized by the Peace Studies Program at Clark University. "Voices of Ferguson/Voices of Worcester — Mediating Peace in Our Community: Creating Safety & Responsibility for All," included lectures by Ms. Buck and Mr. Bradley, workshops, and a panel discussion about racism and the exploration of non-violent responses. The 150 people in attendance were also working on a "Worcester Declaration Against Racism."
Could Ferguson happen in Worcester?
"It could happen, yes. Race issues are all over the world. But we want people to be aware of it and do whatever they can to prevent it," said Jude Fernando, professor of international development at Clark University and director of the Peace Studies Program. "We're looking to the future. Yes, there is a problem, and what do we do about it?"
In conjunction with the conference was an exhibition titled "Tombstone Exhibit" put together by two medical students at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The exhibition has more than 40 tombstones representing real stories of young men of color who were unarmed but killed by police nationwide.
Solange Bayard said she and Jasmine Khubchandani were talking about the shooting of Mr. Brown in August and felt helpless and "frustrated that people weren't outraged." As they researched the subject, they found many similar instances and came up with the idea of building tombstones for them.
"It was a lesson for us. We dug into newspapers — local stories untold in the mainstream. All of the men were unarmed," Ms. Bayard said. "Building the tombstones was our reality," said Ms. Khubchandani.
Ms. Buck and Mr. Bradley were moved by the "Tombstone Exhibit." "This is the build-up," Mr. Bradley said of the exhibition's stories. "Michael Brown is the spark."
The "Tombstone Exhibit" will be at the College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday. Ms. Bayard and Ms. Khubchandani said they would like it to become a traveling exhibit.
Contact Richard Duckett at Richard.Duckett@telegram.com
However, the tension is less about whether the St. Louis County grand jury will indict Officer Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown after ordering the 18-year-old and a friend to stop walking in a street in Ferguson on Aug. 9. Rather, it is about what will happen after the decision is announced. Protests erupted in Ferguson after Mr. Brown's death.
The grand jury decision could come any day. There are reports that law enforcement authorities are preparing thousands of officers to be ready.
"It's a high anxiety moment that is causing even more fears for people," said Stefan Bradley, an author and professor at St. Louis University. "In my mind this is as close to hysteria as I've ever seen."
For the decision itself, "I think we all know what's coming down but it's a matter of waiting," said LaTanya Buck, director for the Center of Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. "Speaking for myself, I don't envision a positive outcome is what I'll say. And I'm fearful for what that means to the St. Louis community and for what that means to the black community," she said.
"I would say that people have the sense that Officer Wilson won't be indicted," said Mr. Bradley. There are many African-Americans who have come to expect police officers to be found not guilty at trials in related cases, Mr. Bradley observed. "But the part that cuts the deepest is that this officer won't go to court at all."
The governor of Missouri has appeared flanked with police officers, emphasizing the need for safety, Mr. Bradley said.
"That indicates to me there will not be an indictment and people should prepare for a police force that is more prepared for protesters — and that is frightening."
Ms. Buck and Mr. Bradley were being interviewed prior to the opening of Saturday's daylong conference organized by the Peace Studies Program at Clark University. "Voices of Ferguson/Voices of Worcester — Mediating Peace in Our Community: Creating Safety & Responsibility for All," included lectures by Ms. Buck and Mr. Bradley, workshops, and a panel discussion about racism and the exploration of non-violent responses. The 150 people in attendance were also working on a "Worcester Declaration Against Racism."
Could Ferguson happen in Worcester?
"It could happen, yes. Race issues are all over the world. But we want people to be aware of it and do whatever they can to prevent it," said Jude Fernando, professor of international development at Clark University and director of the Peace Studies Program. "We're looking to the future. Yes, there is a problem, and what do we do about it?"
In conjunction with the conference was an exhibition titled "Tombstone Exhibit" put together by two medical students at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The exhibition has more than 40 tombstones representing real stories of young men of color who were unarmed but killed by police nationwide.
Solange Bayard said she and Jasmine Khubchandani were talking about the shooting of Mr. Brown in August and felt helpless and "frustrated that people weren't outraged." As they researched the subject, they found many similar instances and came up with the idea of building tombstones for them.
"It was a lesson for us. We dug into newspapers — local stories untold in the mainstream. All of the men were unarmed," Ms. Bayard said. "Building the tombstones was our reality," said Ms. Khubchandani.
Ms. Buck and Mr. Bradley were moved by the "Tombstone Exhibit." "This is the build-up," Mr. Bradley said of the exhibition's stories. "Michael Brown is the spark."
The "Tombstone Exhibit" will be at the College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday. Ms. Bayard and Ms. Khubchandani said they would like it to become a traveling exhibit.
Contact Richard Duckett at Richard.Duckett@telegram.com
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