After the late night announcement from Missouri that the grand jury investigating the shooting of African-American Michael Brown did not render homicide charges against White officer Darren Wilson, the town of Ferguson began to burn.
Activists and leaders among Pittsburgh’s Black community universally condemned the behavior, but had anticipated it—and said they understand it.
“There is a problem with the justice system, not just here or in Ferguson, but across the country, and it will take systematic change, city by city to address it,” said Citizens for Police Accountability Executive Director Brandi Fisher. “I think the reaction was fully expected and understood. People react to injustice. When you have frustrated and angry people they’re going to react. I don’t advocate tearing up your own community. I don’t agree, but I understand.”
Richard Garland of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health said the stage was set for the verdict—and the community reaction—from the beginning.
“The (looting and rioting) sends a really bad message, but this is the frustration of them having a foot on their neck for years, and seeing this as the only way to express that,” he said. “There are still a lot of questions about the shooting. And Black folks are feeling really threatened by police treatment.”
Reverend Glenn Grayson, pastor of Wesley Center AMEZ Church in the Hill District, said he was not surprised by the grand jury’s decision and that his heart goes out to the Brown family. The morning after the Nov. 24 decision, Grayson posted on his Facebook page, “Lost my innocent youngest son from Black on Black gun violence, my biggest fear now—my oldest son becoming the next Mike Brown. We can’t afford to lose anymore of our Black males.”
Reached later by phone, Rev. Grayson said, as a whole, “we have to address the Black on Black violence and why so many are dying (at) the hands of people sworn to serve and protect.” He referenced the Nov. 22 police involved shooting of a Black 12-year-old Cleveland boy who died a day later.
As for Pittsburgh becoming the next Ferguson, Rev. Grayson said, “We mirror Ferguson and that’s the scary part. Employment, education, adequate housing and opportunities are an issue. We have had similar (police involved shooting) incidents with Leon Ford, Jonny Gammage and others. We need (making positive changes) to become a concerted public issue.”
Community Empowerment Association President and CEO T. Rashad Byrdsong was not concerned about local protests getting out of hand, noting that if the Black community here hadn’t reacted with riots after Jonny Gammage, Jerry Jackson, Jordon Miles or Ford, why would they for someone killed hundreds of miles away. Byrdsong as well was not surprised by the verdict or the reaction in Ferguson.
“Having seen police violence inflicted on African-American men with impunity over the years, I wasn’t surprised at all,” he said. “We need to challenge the structure of democracy when it’s not being fair and impartial. There has to be leadership on these issues—when there’s no leadership, you have what you have in Ferguson. We haven’t seen the level of emotional intensity as in Ferguson, and I hope we don’t before these systemic problems are addressed. We have to be proactive.”
Fisher echoed that sentiment.
“The people involved in activism here, don’t carry the same spirit as the people in Ferguson,” she said.
Not too long after the announcement of the decision, New Voices Pittsburgh organized and held a protest near their building, at the intersection of Penn and Highland Avenues, in East Liberty. Several dozen people braved the cold early morning air to peacefully voice their disagreement with the decision.
La’Tasha Mayes, NVP executive director, posted on her page, “It’s time to get off Facebook & come together! @NewVoicesPgh will be open @ 11:30 p, 5907 Penn Ave, then Penn &Highland @ 12mid. #NVP #ReproJustice #WOC”
She later posted, “The expectation of peace where Black people and people of color have never known justice is foolish and extremely ridiculous.”
