Ferguson and Beyond
People of faith are called to hold Ferguson, MO, in our hearts and minds as events continue to unfold following the death of Michael Brown last Saturday. Ferguson is not an isolated incident but part of a much larger legacy of violence and criminalization of Black people in the United States. We say the names of those we know but recognize many other people go unnamed.
Unitarian Universalists are taking action in Ferguson and around the country to advocate for justice and love. All of us are needed. During time of trauma and frustration, let us continue to explore ways to learn more, grow, heal, and take collective action. Use the resources below to take your own next steps and encourage others in your life to join you.
In Memoriam
Images from National Moment of Silence Vigils #NMOS14 on Colorlines
Black and Pink Boston in Solidarity with Michael Brown and the People of Ferguson
Meditation & Reflection
Please Don’t Shoot, Rev. Adriene Thorne, Middle Collegiate College
Up to Our Necks, Rev. Meg Riley, Huffington Post
On Michael Brown, Dr. Alveda King, KDSK
PICO Network, Faith-based reflection and organizing
Praying with our feet, Faith-based responses in Ferguson
Learn More
Things to Stop Being Distracted by When a Black Person Gets Murdered by Police, Mia McKenzie, Black Girl Dangerous
Ferguson and Resistance Against the Black Holocaust, Chris Crass, Truth Out
Operation Ghetto Storm on the Extrajudicial Killing of 313 Black people, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
Our Homes are Not Battlefields: Reversing the Militarization and Federalization of Local Police in Massachusetts, Sunlight on Surveillance
Why don’t we hear about women victims of state violence? Verónica Bayetti Flores,Feministing
Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, #DONTSHOOT – Bearing Witness and Breaking the Silence
What’s Gender Got to Do with Police Brutality, Rights Working Group
Accountability & Justice
Black Cops Against Police Brutality
Cop Watch and Holding Police Accountable, CopWatch NYC
Know Your Rights for LGBTQ Youth of Color, Streetwise and Safe
National Police Accountability Project, a Project of the National Lawyers Guild
National Day Against Police Brutality, The October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation
Stop Law Enforcement Violence, INCITE!
Take Action
Check out Ferguson Solidarity: Ways to Support the Fight, a curated list from organizers in Ferguson including specific needs as well as ways to get involved at home
Ten Things White People Can Do About Ferguson Besides Tweet, Kate Harding, Dame Magazine
Ask President Obama to Enact New Federal Laws to Protect Citizens from Police Violence & Misconduct via this petition
Support organizations in Ferguson and St. Louis doing work in solidarity including the Ferguson Bail Fund and the Organization for Black Struggle
Support national organizations taking action to stop violence against Trans Women of Color including Trans Justice Funding Project and Trans Women of Color Collective
Join others at solidarity actions being organized throughout the country. Click here to see a list of upcoming events.
The Spirithouse Project: Organizing Caravans for Racial Justice
Many thanks to Elizabeth Capone-Henriquez, Chris Crass, Audra Friend, Rev. Jason Lydon, Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, Betty-Jeanne Reuters-Ward and Megan Selby for their resource recommendations.