Thousands of protesters from different states in the country converged in Ferguson on October 10 and will be there until October 13 to show their solidarity with the people of St. Louis.
St. Louis activists organized four days of activities. This weekend event has been named Ferguson October. Many of the events that will be held are in the Greater St. Louis area (including Ferguson).
According to fergusonoctober.com, massive marches and rallies, hip hop shows, civil disobedience and prayer will fill the weekend.
Americans and residents of Ferguson, Mo., became enraged over 60 days ago when an unarmed black teenage boy, Michael Brown, was killed by the hands of a white St. Louis police officer, Derren Wilson.
When an off-duty white St. Louis police officer killed a black teenage boy, Vonderrit Myers, shooting him 16 times, just 10 miles away from where Brown was killed, the world found a new rage.
Daniela Saczek, a graduate student studying community and social change at The University of Miami, said she went to Ferguson because there is still no accountability for the death of Michael Brown.
“I am glad the world is waking up to what is going on right now,” Saczek said. “The energy here is hype, the local people won't be tired out or convinced away from they have been doing for 64 days.”
Students and young people — teenagers, children and young adults — are a great portion of the people who showed up for this weekend’s event.
Saczek said, “young people will not be taking it anymore.”
Student activist from Tallahassee, Fla., are also amongst the activist in attendance for Ferguson October.
Naomi Brown, a fourth-year political science student at Florida A&M University, decided to go to Ferguson because she followed the protest that occurred after Mike Brown’s death on twitter and wanted to be a part of what the people are doing in Ferguson.
“Ferguson October is important because activism and social justice has to start somewhere,” Brown said. “I want [to] fight for justice here and tell all of my friends about it. Hopefully I inspire someone so that the movement can grow.”
Naomi Brown isn’t the only person who hopes that the movement will grow and this event will cause people to become more aware.
Angelique Fullwood — a student at Tallahassee Community College — said, “after Ferguson October, we have to be diligent in fighting against criminalization and state violence.”
Michael Sampson, a Florida State University graduate and Tallahassee resident, is not in St. Louis for Ferguson October, but he went to Ferguson soon after the murder of Michael Brown and is glad to see that the people of Ferguson are continuing to fight.
“It was amazing to be in Ferguson to see people empowered to fight for justice in their own communities,” Sampson said. “What they are doing in Ferguson has raised the concerns of police brutality to an unprecedented national level, which I hope will create change in how police operate.”
For more information on “Ferguson October”, follow the hashtag “#fergusonoctober” on social media or go to “www.fergusonoctober.com”