Ferguson: community voices
Perspective by
On August 9, 2014 a white police officer shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown dead in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri.
I documented events in August and again in November last year when street protests escalated after the officer was cleared of wrongdoing.
For some Ferguson residents, the events have made them get more involved in the community.
“My life won’t ever be the same,” said a 36-year-old activist and protester who goes by the nickname Chocolate.
“When I ask kids what they want to be when they grow, they respond ‘I want to be alive’. No one has accepted what’s happened,” she said. “There’s still a disconnect between the police and the community.”
Before: Ken Kendricks Jr., a local resident, puts his hands together in prayer at a makeshift memorial at the site along Canfield Road where Michael Brown was shot dead.
After: The same site is seen today.
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Brown’s shooting stoked a debate over race relations, policing and the criminal justice system in a year when the United States has become acutely aware of the deaths of civilians, especially black people, at the hands of police.
Events in Ferguson sparked a national movement, causing a reaction from coast to coast. All of a sudden we had this attention on the police and their use of force.
We felt Ferguson deserved to be revisited ahead of the one-year anniversary.
Before: Members of the National Guard stand outside Ferguson Police Department where demonstrators gathered to protest against the shooting of Brown.
After: An empty parking lot is seen outside Ferguson Police Department.
Before: A protester holds a sign outside a drugstore that was set alight after a grand jury decided not to indict the officer for shooting Brown.
After: Shoppers are seen through the window of the same drugstore.
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On my return trip, I finally got to witness the suburb without the presence of protesters and media on the streets.
Initially it felt empty, but once I spoke to the youth and community leaders, I found the events of 2014 are still very much alive. The community is still coping with the aftermath.
There was a mixed reaction when I went out and spoke to people on the streets.
Before: Student activists stage a “die-in”, part of the nationwide "Hands up, walk out" protest, at Washington University's Tisch Commons college building.
After: A student walks through Washington University's Tisch Commons building as other students study and dine.
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I faced several incidents where residents showed animosity towards me as they felt the media didn’t portray Ferguson in a good light.
Others were keen to talk. While I was taking the photo of an RIP sign on the ground, a woman stopped me and asked what I was doing.
When I explained that I’d taken a photo of her walking by, she said she was honoured to be part of any report that marked the anniversary of Brown’s death.
"The community has become more close knit. People have become tighter as family, fight the cause and prove to the media what they put on television (about Ferguson) is wrong. Despite everything that happened, I still wouldn't move because I love this community.” - Bridget Guthrie, 52, a pharmacy technician.
"It didn't affect my life at all. I still sit on the porch like normal. I heard the guns but I didn't do nothing so I don't have to be afraid of nobody.” - Cora Gates, 68, a grandmother.
“My house is a block away from the police station. I heard things happening. My husband was freaking so we left for two days in November. We didn't take walks for a while. I didn't feel like my safety was threatened. The violence was aimed towards police.” - Shandi Hall, 27.
"Personally it did not affect me, but emotionally it was a major event. I felt sorry for what happened to the young man. I felt bad what my community and what the city went through. The chaos disrupted and is still causing disruption (in the community). It was tragic.” - Donald Harry, 57, a home owner.
"More people are voting. More African American citizens of the community got involved and were elected to city offices, which I hope achieves positive change. No citizen deserves to be treated like a second class citizen no matter if you're the majority or minority.” - Tommie Pierson, 69, a pastor.
"It made me grow up. It was devastating after Michael Brown died but I continue to see many more die. It has made me more depressed and angry at the world. It has made me grow hatred towards the law enforcement and judicial system. There have been multiple changes. Gangs have stopped being violent. Kids walk around more joyfully. There is a sense of peacefulness and safety because the police are more aware of their actions.” - Lowkey, 16.
"More than anything, I mistrust the government now because the aftermath of Michael Brown's death was politically driven. The destruction and hate was all driven by politics.” - Steve Hewkin, 57, in his auto body shop.
“I am afraid to bring my kids outside to play. A lot of my favourite businesses closed down… Police officers are more respectful to everyone now simply because of our colour.” - Jerry Adams, 23, fundraising for the funeral of a family member at an intersection.
"Overall I think the biggest change is that our community is awake now. Not everyone agrees on the path to be taken, and some folks would probably prefer to go back to sleep, but by and large I think most of us are wanting to show the world the positive change that can come about when citizens wake up, dig in, and get to work on some of the biggest issues and opportunities of our time… It forced us to have a difficult and important conversation. It also illuminated the need to have more citizen oversight and involvement in our government, as well as the need for public officials and police officers to really get to know the communities they're governing or policing.” - Molly Rockamann, 34, at her organic farm.
"My parents made us stay home because of the shooting. Sometimes we couldn't go to school. I felt more afraid of the police because I thought they would shoot me for nothing." - Hakeem Thomas, 14, a student.
Demonstrator Keisha Gray cries while protesting about the death of Michael Brown.
Demonstrators gesture and chant.
Police officers briefly detain a person.
Security forces detain a demonstrator.
A protester throws back a smoke bomb during a clash with police.
A protester reaches down to throw back a smoke canister.
Protesters react to the effects of tear gas.
A man is doused with milk and sprayed with mist after being hit by an eye irritant by security forces trying to disperse demonstrators.
Protesters chant as they ride on a car during a peaceful demonstration.
A woman approaches a barricade to confront the police.
Police officers react to violent protesters.
A protester jumps on a Ferguson police car.
A man walks past a burning building as riots erupted after a grand jury decided not to indict the officer for shooting Brown.
A resident, lying shirtless, keeps warm as another approaches the blazing skeleton of Juanita's Fashions R Boutique.
Police form a line in the street under a holiday sign after a grand jury decided not to indict the officer for shooting Brown. Gunshots were heard and bottles were thrown as anger rippled through a crowd outside the Ferguson Police Department.
