#Ferguson

As I write this, the town of #Ferguson, MO is the number one news story. There are several viewpoints of whether they are criminal, looting, rebellious, valiant, outrageous, and on and on. It has brought out such feelings, in myself, in others and the lines are being created. The story of #Ferguson begins with the shooting and subsequent death of a young man named Michael Brown. I am sure on the day, when he left his home he never knew he wouldn't return and that his name would be known across the globe. A small little town of 21,000  mostly the working poor have shaken this country and the world..just by Rising. I remember seeing the story on Facebook first, of course and couple of people had posted. I couldn't even register shock because the story had become so common. Then the protests started, first seen in social media and more people began to notice, then I returned from a trip to California to "rioting and  unrest" in #Ferguson. People being arrested in the streets, rubber bullets, mandatory curfews even the President having to speak about it, 3 times. 
News stations capturing every moment and just like Katrina, watching how the racial divide in this country is alive and kicking. Its history that spans over 300 years, I am no illusion the effects are not going to disappear over nite. 
The common theme in the news is the unrest, the looting, the disturbance. A reporter on CNN actually  tried to gently suggest that maybe people should only protest during the day because it agitates the police.  When a "reporter" ( and I use those quotes marks on purpose) were speaking to  2 photo journalist on CNN about the clashes with the police.  These  2 journalists (who were young, white men) stated that the protesters were angry but lawful and it seemed as if the police were taunting by shooting rubber bullets and one had been hit in the leg. Before he  could finish this "reporter" ( who is a black man)cut him off, by saying the police stated the residents were the agitators and thanked them for their time.  This only confirmed what I knew, that people all have their own agendas in this situation and the news stations are trying to "entertain viewers" with the angry, scary black mob story. 
For the purposes of this post, I want to focus on my admiration for #Ferguson. I was at a rally in Harlem yesterday in support of #Ferguson and one theme was said over and over...rise up #Ferguson. What this town has shown us, what true organizers have known and people of faith. If you stand for what's right, if you say enough is enough , people will have to listen. The people in Gaza, saw in #Ferguson what is true in their own situation, sending tweets in support.  You can only be kicked down so many times before you have to ..Rise.  It hurt my heart to see the parents of Sean Bell focus on the looting and not the amazing organizing. I don't know if on some level, they envied the attention that #Ferguson is getting or maybe they just don't know what rebellion looks like. Organizing isn't always pretty, every one does not  follow the script and some will use situations for their own advantage but if anyone is really thinking, could they really have the attention of the world if they were just looting? Would the President be sending the Attorney General for looting? Lets be for real here, this  is  what happened in Tienanmen Sq., this is Brazil during the World Cup,  this is Venzuela, this is Gaza, this is Arab Spring and now this is #Ferguson. There are always going to be those who disapprove, disparage, scorn because they don't understand change, we  should expect that. The people who gain from the oppression will fight it at ever turn, will criminalize, demonize. I mean MLK was jailed over 10 times and he was active preacher.  Know the signs but lets always remember, just like Jesus if you are being challenged, you must be doing something right.  #RiseupFerguson #blacklivesmatter #Ferguson #Ferguson2NyC