Occupy Returns as Ferguson/Garner Protests Spread Nationwide

“TOMORROW (Tues), #OccupyCountycouncil, 2:30PM! We demand an end to a justice system that jails nonviolent offenders but lets cops kill! 41 S. Central, 63105.” These were the words of a mass text sent to subscribers to the “Ferguson Action” list. The list includes groups that formed in response to the August shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, by police officer Darren Wilson and have fueled the protest movement that has continued since.

Video was posted online of the Tuesday meeting showing that a few protesters had indeed attended. Four members of the group spoke to the St. Louis County Council, according to the St. Louis American–the same day other protestors spoke to the city council in Berkeley, California.

“The foul smell of injustice is still pervading our community,” said a woman identifying herself simply as Sunny to the St. Louis council. “Black people in this nation are in a state of emergency.” She became increasingly emotional and exclaimed that there were fellow protesters across the street at the justice center. “Black people can’t breathe, just like Eric Garner,” she said. She and other speakers also honed in on imprisonment of blacks and black protesters. The message from each pointedly focused on accusations of court injustice and what they deemed civil and “human rights violations.”

When the last speaker of their group left the podium, the speakers and others appearing in solidarity with the group rose and ended their county council “occupation,” exiting the chambers chanting, “America, America, let our people go.”

The familiar ‘occupy’ wording is no coincidence. One of the seasoned trainers present for at least one Ferguson protester training was none other than radical leftist Lisa Fithian.

Fithian was dubbed “Professor Occupy” for her part in massive Occupy Wall Street protest encampments. The movement is steeped in “dark anarchist roots” and encampments were riddled with “criminal activity and raw brutality,” as documented and conveyed in the 2012 film Occupy Unmasked.

Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana