Buffalo Forum Update
Rallies in Ferguson and 170 Nationwide Demand Justice for Mike Brown
• Buffalo Joins Actions Opposing Racist Police Killings
Rallies in Ferguson and 170 Nationwide Demand Justice for Mike Brown
Buffalo Joins Actions Opposing
Racist Police Killings
An angry crowd of about 200, mostly youth and students, demonstrated Tuesday evening, November 25, in Buffalo, demanding justice for Mike Brown and standing against racist police killings. The protesters gathered at Bailey and Millicent for a rally and then marched down Bailey to the nearby police station at Warwick. A banner and chants of “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police!” echoed through the streets, as did calls like, “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho Killer Cops have Got to Go!” The action was one of more than 170 in all regions of the country following the expected news that the grand jury did not indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson policeman who killed unarmed African American teenager Michael Brown.
The source of the anger was not simply with the grand jury failure to indict, but with a system that sanctions police racism and killings and refuses to punish the guilty. Crimes are being committed yet it is said police are just doing their job. As one sign put it, “The System Isn’t Broken, It Was Built This Way.”
In addition to youth, teachers and community organizers from various groups participated and spoke, taking their stand in support of Ferguson and against the injustice of a racist system. People gave examples of police brutality in Buffalo and the impoverished conditions facing many, especially African American youth. “Black Lives Matter” was the stand of many. As one African American woman said, “We are human beings,” and we are still treated as though “we are subhuman.” She added, “Enough is enough. This has got to stop!”
The signs and discussion taking place among protesters made clear the issues are broader than individual police guilty of killing unarmed youth. This was expressed in content like, “Indict the System,” “Police Killings Are Not Self Defense, They Are Genocide,” “Justice Means No Profiling and Brutality.” The genocide of mass incarceration was opposed, as was the failure of government to provide the rights to jobs and education. One of the student protesters commented that she did not know a black man who had not been harassed or arrested or brutalized by police. As speakers brought out, a black person is killed every 28 hours by police or security guards working with them..
Participants also spoke to the need to persist in resistance and continue united actions of various kinds. The general sentiment was that protests are much needed and serve to unite people and strengthen their resolve. Further building organization in order to sustain resistance was also needed. “Having a plan and having organization is critical,” said a Buffalo State graduate. “Be angry, stay angry and use that anger to create a whole new culture and new world,” added a UB student, one of many from UB. Both African American women, they expressed the anger of demonstrators that inequality, government racism and impunity for killings and brutality are still such big problems in society today. As one means to persist in organizing a planning meeting has been called for Saturday, November 29, 3pm at the Merriweather Library (Jefferson and Utica).
The demonstration concluded by marching back to Bailey and Millicent and holding a moment of silence for four and a half minutes. This was to honor all those killed by police, all those protesting in Ferguson and remembering the 4 and a half hours Mike Brown’s body was left in the street. People expressed their firm support for Ferguson, where protests occurred as soon as word of no indictment came down and continue everyday, as they have for more than 100 days since the August 9 killing occurred. In dispersing, many expressed their enthusiasm for more united actions to defend Buffalo’s communities and oppose government racism and brutality.
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