by Robert Patrick, St. Louis Post Dispatch
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A coalition of roughly 50 groups concerned about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown on Wednesday asked police to agree to “rules of engagement” for the response to the upcoming grand jury decision about the shooting and announced their own plans.
At a news conference in St. Louis, “Don’t Shoot Coalition” members said they were offering training in de-escalation and for legal observers. They vowed to have at least two safe spaces set up in each anticipated area of protest activity, to offer sanctuary in houses of worship. And they said that had been attempting, unsuccessfully so far, to negotiate key elements with local and federal officials.
The group said police should value safety first, and agree to a “de-militarized response” that would bar the use of armored vehicles, rubber bullets, rifles and tear gas.
The group is asking for advance notice of the public announcement of the decision, so that they can prepare. They are also asking police to respect the safe spaces and ensure protesters can reach them.
A St. Louis County grand jury has been considering whether Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson should face charges for the Aug. 9 shooting of the unarmed Brown, 18. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch said Tuesday night that the jury was still hearing evidence, adding that he didn’t expect a decision until mid- to late November.
Coalition members said tensions were growing, fueled by three recent fatal police shootings and long-term problems that include racial profiling, a lack of diversity and accountability in law enforcement, inequality and a lack of trust in police and the judicial system. The group blamed police for escalating peaceful protests into violence, saying that given proper space, protesters have been self-policing.
People “are going to pour into the street,” predicted Montague Simmons, chair of the Organization of Black Struggle, and no amount of force will prevent that. But he said that the coalition would engage in “peaceful, non-violent civil disobedience” in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and wanted police to use respect and a non-militarized approach to protesters.
Simmons said he expected Clayton and the Ferguson police station to be “natural gathering areas” after the decision is announced. “Every injury, every bullet that flies, every drop of teargas,” he said, will be on the hands of elected officials if they fail to act.
In recent weeks, the group has also called for a special prosecutor to replace McCulloch and recommended a series of reforms to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Spokesmen for the St. Louis County police and the Missouri Department of Public Safety did not immediately return emails seeking comment on the group’s requests.
