Week-N-Revue with Robyn Knight
Protest held in Kansas City for unarmed slain teen Michael Brown by Jazzmin Matchette
On Aug. 15, a small group of Kansas Citians, put together a peaceful protest at Ilus Davis Park to protest police brutality and the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old African American that was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson Missouri.
The event was threefold, consisting of a rally,
vigil and march; the lighting of candles; and releasing of balloons to represent all of the victims who had lost their lives to police brutality.
There was a bit of media coverage from KCTV 5 and Fox 4 both were at the event. The goal for the protesters was to spread awareness of the ongoing issues with police brutality, and to show that even in small numbers, the message is just as strong.
“As fellow Missourians we wanted to show our support to Ferguson and to let them know we hear them and we are doing what we can to help them to increase awareness with their demands for justice and the Missouri legal system,” said Ilea Lauber, activist and organizer of Occupy Kansas city.
The first part of the event began with a march, which was held to demonstrate people of Kansas City and surrounding areas exercising their first amendment right to protest and to ask their government for a redress of grievances.
When asked what he hopes to accomplish by attending this event, student Shawn Silver of Truman High school said, “I hope to show the people of Ferguson that they have support all over and to help bring an end to the racial inequality in America.”
Halfway through the march there was a stop made at the Kansas City courthouse where local rapper Young Fatha gave a speech announcing that not only should we be protesting Michael Brown’s death, but death caused by each other.
“We should not only be protesting when a black kid gets shot by a white police officer, but when people get shot by each other. Whether its black on black or white on white, this is what we should be doing,” said Young Fatha.
As the march continued there were several chants being shouted in an attempt to get people’s attention such as “Hands up don’t shoot!” and “Hey hey ho ho killer cops have got to go!”
“Hands up don’t shoot!” Is one of the chants that was being yelled during the march, this phrase has been shouted all across the country at several protests being held for Brown. It represents the moment when Brown was reportedly shot with his hands in air, surrendering to the police officer.
As the march came to a close and the protesters returned back to Ilus Davis Park people gathered to listen to volunteer speakers express their grievances about Brown’s death, personal experiences with the police and other opinions on police brutality. Many different opinions were expressed through the evening but everyone did agree on one thing, the unjustified killings of both minorities and non-minorities by police officers in this country is wrong.
“Even though I’m not of an oppressed race, I still see the inequality between the white population versus the black population,” Silver said. “I think it is unfair and I think people of all races need to come to together to fight for racial equality.”
As the event came to a close, candles were lit and passed around, and there was a moment of silence and a balloon releasing, to represent all of the fallen victims of police brutality. The event was a success for many.
Story originally from http://thsmediaonline.weebly.com/newsinformational.html