Poets for Ferguson
Donation protected
Michael Brown was an 18-year old black man, shot and killed by Officer Darren Dean Wilson, August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, MO. Officer Wilson rode up to Michael and his friend Dorian Johnson, ordering them to move out of the street and onto the sidewalk. In the midst of an altercation between Officer Wilson and Michael, a shot was fired. In an effort to evade Officer Wilson's gunfire, Michael and Dorian ran: Officer Wilson pursued. Despite Michael putting up his hands in surrender as he knelt in the street, Officer Wilson fired 6 shots into Michael Brown's body, killing him.
In the days following, coverage of Michael's murder was havocked by a conveniently shifting narrative of events as told (read, fabricated) by the Ferguson Police Department. Citizens of Ferguson and Persons of Color across the nation responded to the historical implications of police brutality, racism, and the pervasive destruction of the black body in this country, and elsewhere, blatantly apparent in the details of Michael Brown's death.
John Crawford's death.
Eric Garner's death.
Oscar Grant's death.
Sean Bell's death.
Immediately, the protestors of Ferguson were met with mass scale militarized police force presence in their streets. The use of tear gas, bullets, fear, military tanks, intimidation, forced curfew, and strategic incitations of violence has been and continues to be employed within the city, against protestors.
As the protestors of Ferguson have remained unmoved in the exacting of their rage in the face of this national tradition of organized malevolence and silencing of the people, many have been arrested in protest for reasons unfounded.
Poets for Ferguson is an effort to support and stand in solidarity with all the protestors of Ferguson and those stuck with subsequent legal dues.
Poets for Ferguson is a 24-hour livestreamed cypher consisting entirely, of poets of color from across the country. Participating poets will be reading poems from September 27th to September 28th, to raise money for those protestors of Ferguson, MO who have accrued legal fees (bond, legal defense expenses, etc.) as the result of protesting in the wake of the murder of Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. All funds raised will be contributed to Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (M.O.R.E.) in their efforts to provide protestors with financial aid.
As always, any amount is appreciated and no amount is too small. If you can't donate, share this with someone who can.
In love and solidarity.
In the days following, coverage of Michael's murder was havocked by a conveniently shifting narrative of events as told (read, fabricated) by the Ferguson Police Department. Citizens of Ferguson and Persons of Color across the nation responded to the historical implications of police brutality, racism, and the pervasive destruction of the black body in this country, and elsewhere, blatantly apparent in the details of Michael Brown's death.
John Crawford's death.
Eric Garner's death.
Oscar Grant's death.
Sean Bell's death.
Immediately, the protestors of Ferguson were met with mass scale militarized police force presence in their streets. The use of tear gas, bullets, fear, military tanks, intimidation, forced curfew, and strategic incitations of violence has been and continues to be employed within the city, against protestors.
As the protestors of Ferguson have remained unmoved in the exacting of their rage in the face of this national tradition of organized malevolence and silencing of the people, many have been arrested in protest for reasons unfounded.
Poets for Ferguson is an effort to support and stand in solidarity with all the protestors of Ferguson and those stuck with subsequent legal dues.
Poets for Ferguson is a 24-hour livestreamed cypher consisting entirely, of poets of color from across the country. Participating poets will be reading poems from September 27th to September 28th, to raise money for those protestors of Ferguson, MO who have accrued legal fees (bond, legal defense expenses, etc.) as the result of protesting in the wake of the murder of Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. All funds raised will be contributed to Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (M.O.R.E.) in their efforts to provide protestors with financial aid.
As always, any amount is appreciated and no amount is too small. If you can't donate, share this with someone who can.
In love and solidarity.
Organizer
Sasha Banks
Organizer
Portland, ME
