Ferguson Fires are Fanned Again
By angel_smiles
@Lolaze (5092)
St. Louis, Missouri
August 10, 2015 2:04pm CST
I live very close to where Mike Brown was shot by Officer Darren Wilson last year. In the months that followed, I protested peacefully in the streets. I also protested for Kajieme Powell - a mentally ill man who was shot and killed by two still unnamed St. Louis City police officers a few weeks after Brown's death. The key word there is that I was peaceful, many who took to the streets in the aftermath of the shootings were not and continue to not promote peace.
Buildings were burned and businesses were looted. Many small business owners saw their life's work destroyed. A lot of people in Ferguson lost their jobs as chain stores which were looted or burned did not reopen or chose to leave the area. Toys R Us, looted in the November riots when the Grand Jury verdict was announced, closed its doors shortly after that night. WalMart - a continual protester target - is closing up and moving north this month, a good 20 extra minutes on the bus route. Ferguson's economy has been destroyed in the aftermath of the riots and looting.
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of Mike Brown's death. It was supposed to be marked with peaceful protests and marches. Instead, one teen lies in critical condition - shot by police after they report he opened fire on them with a stolen semi-automatic weapon. Elsewhere in Ferguson, three police officers were injured with pepper spray and thrown objects. Two teens walking in Canfield apartments where Brown died were the victims of a drive by shooting. The night before - a man in a store parking lot was shot by an unknown assailant.
I unfortunately believe that peace is out of reach for the Ferguson community. When the protesters aren't the ones acting violently, its trouble makers from out of town. Today is supposed to be a day of civil unrest and I find myself fearing for what violence may come.
12 people like this
15 responses
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
10 Aug 15
Stay safe PLEASE! I've read a lot about what's happened/happening in Ferguson and now I will worry you!
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
11 Aug 15
@Lolaze Well fingers crossed they stay on the other side!
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
10 Aug 15
And who can blame the people for protesting..I know I don't.
I know the ground in that area real well..went to school there too.
Ferguson is a place that nobody on the outside can imagine, no matter how hard they try.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
10 Aug 15
@BillKasman That's right Bill. It is a rough place to live.The outside world only sees what the media presents. Many live streamers are present now on the ground which helps to clarify wrong media reporting.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
10 Aug 15
@BillKasman Yes, what you say is outstandingly true Bill. On another note, I saw your fantastic blog and I would love to be able to have time to read that book about the family, your second post visible to me. What a hard life they must have endured.
@Lolaze (5092)
• St. Louis, Missouri
11 Aug 15
@BillKasman the one good thing that has come from Ferguson is the major uptick in LiveStream reporting. There is now straight from the ground reporting, instead of paid news shows with a twist.
2 people like this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
11 Aug 15
It isn't just outsiders or "thugs" that do these things. Sometimes things police do are blamed on the protesters that were actually the cops. I saw one of them (on a live stream) accidently shoot a gas container into a trash dumpster. The next day it was blamed on the protester and they used that fire to do it.
I also watched protesters trying to stop looters from destroying places.
There is no way to protect either side from the misdoings of a few of their members. It is so sad to watch and it makes people feel useless.
Stay safe, Stay aware, and Stay fighting in what ever way you can.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
11 Aug 15
I remember all that I too saw it TLChimes..
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
13 Aug 15
@TLChimes Yes I did,, I cant remember what they guys were calling themselves oh the OathKeepers yes I saw them gallivanting
around free as birds.
around free as birds.1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
10 Aug 15
I always like how some think the Midwest is so safe compared to states like California with it's gangs and places like New York and Boston. St.Louis has a lot of rough places. My brother used to get jumped nearly every day when we went to school there. Please do stay safe.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
16 Aug 15
@Lolaze I do not really remember. It was very poor and we only went there for like a month or two. I was in first or second grade and was one of three kids who could read. The teachers were not very helpful and did not seem to know how to handle the situation. Kids used to go to the bath room in their seats because the teacher would never let them go. I am not sure if they were scared kids would skip out of class or if they thought something would happen to them. We moved to Kansas and that school was much better even though it was also kind of poor. Kids were way nicer and tried learning.
@UnkyGreggy (171)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11 Aug 15
I've been following those events since the beginning. As an African-American male I too am harassed by law enforcement unprovoked everywhere I go, so you can see how those events are personal to me. I'm disappointed that so many criminals and troublemakers use righteous protests as an opportunity to commit crimes. Personally, I blame it on the last generation of kids that I grew up with and saw first-hand that didn't bother to raise their kids properly. I know I wont see it in my lifetime, but eventually Americans will no longer be identified and segregated by their skin colors.
@UnkyGreggy (171)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
15 Aug 15
@bagarad You are absolutely right. It's always been them against us since the beginning of man.
1 person likes this
To me it does not make any sense to destroy the businesses. That means they will leave the area and now no one will have them to go to.
@celticeagle (189819)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Aug 15
This is all so awful to hear about. It seems to have snow balled all over the country too. I am glad to see a black man in the head of the police force. Black people need to see people of their own color out there. And, I heard one religious guy say that the police need to be out among the people and getting to know them and their plites and so forth. They are also "peace" officers. I live clear across the country in Idaho.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
11 Aug 15
Keep off the streets and stay safe. regretfully there is always the mob rule who enter and cause mayhem in a community
1 person likes this
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
12 Aug 15
After reading this post and all the comments I searched the news footage for the facts that surrounded this horrendous act. After doing that the only conclusion that I can come to is the words peaceful and protest cannot be used in the same sentence. Although there are a few who want to do something peacefully to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the actions that are most likely unjust there are too many people who will take any excuse to cause trouble and get their fifteen minutes of fame. So, in my opinion the peaceful ones among you should just stay out of it and let time heal the wounds of those whose heart is broken. Stirring it all up again helps no one, not the boy who was shot or his family and friends who are grieving.
2 people like this
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
11 Aug 15
I am having a very hard time understanding why their are protests to begin with...Michael Brown was a criminal that robbed a store, terrorized the clerk, attacked a police officer, resisted arrest, and then tried again to attack the police officer.... What was the police officer supposed to do.....Let Michael brown kill him....
and you are right their will never be peaceful protests because their are too many people trying to start a race war...just to keep this country divided....All lives matter.....We all seen the mentality of the people on the streets last year destroying, and burning buildings, stealing, fighting....for what...
How many good peoples lives were destroyed because of a criminal....and nobody is talking about the officer that lost his job for doing his job...
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
10 Aug 15
I agree with you on this. All it takes is a few crazy people to start all the trouble. And I feel for those people living there because, as you say, businesses are closing up. That is so sad. Whoever started this whole thing in the first place, namely the police, this would have never happened. It is real sad.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
15 Aug 15
I think there are some who really want to start a race war. I hope it doesn't lead to all out civil war. Violent protesters only destroy their own communities and make their lives harder when they drive away the businesses that supply their needs and provide jobs. I think the current administration is fanning the flames. I think most citizens would like to see the violence stop and live in peace. A war against police will not help a community. Most police try to protect innocent people. When police are driven away, there is no one to protect the community from real crime.
I can somewhat understand that you are in the midst of scary enviornment 
@LeaPea2417 (40020)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Aug 15
That is very depressing to read. I am hoping and praying peace can come to that area.
2 people like this
