Visit Ferguson

Remember Ferguson?  It's the St. Louis suburb where a police officer killed an 18 year old black man on August 9, 2014, leading to massive unrest. You saw it on TV.

Just about every American city has this Where magazine. It has information about local attractions and lots of advertising. You find them in hotels, mostly. Looks like it has joined an effort to rehabilitate Ferguson's reputation (not that it ever had much of one around here. Maybe that's part of the problem). I find this ironic and not quite genuine. It won't change anything.

Found in Union Station.                                        

Ferguson

So I went up to the spring street fair in Ferguson yesterday. It was disappointing. Pretty small, a number of vendors and organizations in little tents, a stage, off and on rain all day. The crowd was thin and some of the vendors were striking their tents when I arrived.

It hit me that I've never set foot in Ferguson in the 48 years since I came to St. Louis University. Well off my path from anywhere to anywhere. Didn't dare go during last August's convulsions. We're big enough that there are a number of parts of the metro area I have never seen, no reason to visit except curiosity. If I cut back to part time work in two years (I hope I hope I hope I hope) maybe I can expand my horizons.                                

Hands Up Don't Shoot: Ferguson, Missouri

Most of my readers know about the events following the death of Michael Brown, an 18 year old black man, shot by a white policeman on August 9 in our suburb of Ferguson. The metro area has been on low boil ever since. Some of the protests became violent and there were a lot arrests. Many have demanded that criminal charges be brought against the policeman, Darren Wilson.

That issue has been pending before an institution unique to American's criminal system, a grand jury. There have been fears of riots if Wilson is not indicted. The city is on edge. All area police are on duty. Hundreds of National Guard and FBI personnel have been brought it.

The decision was just announced at 8:25 PM our time. Wilson was not charged. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCullough gave a detailed summary of the procedure and evidence on TV tonight. As I write this late Tuesday we do not know what will happen in and to St. Louis next.

I found the image above stenciled on a bus shelter. It illustrates the common chant of the protesters: hands up, don't shoot. All of us here might wonder if we should call the number below.