In Ferguson, residents find much for which to be grateful amid troubling times
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Version 0 of 1. FERGUSON, Mo. — It was the worst of Thanksgivings, yet it was the best of Thanksgivings, too. All around this partially roadblocked, burned, broken and now internationally symbolic suburb, residents were sifting through the sad and coming up with the good. “This has been one of the most horrible Thanksgivings ever, but that’s what makes it one of the best Thanksgivings ever,” said Terri Williams, finishing a meal in the fellowship hall of Wellspring Church, where turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and pecan pie were served. “It puts in perspective how much we do have to be thankful for,” in spite of the tribulations of this week and the upheaval of the nearly four months since Michael Brown was shot by officer Darren Wilson. Williams was thankful for her twins, Lena and Layla, 6, and the successful barbershop, Total Image, that she and her husband, Christopher, have worked so hard to build. Others gave thanks for how the community seems to be uniting to begin the rebuilding. “At the end of the day, God loves Michael Brown. God loves Darren Wilson,” Christopher Williams said. “Darren Wilson’s family is eating today, and Michael Brown’s family is eating today,” said Shaun Jones, an assistant pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis. “So hopefully we can all come together, at least for today, and be prayerful that our future is better than our present.” Protesters — who for the most part took a break from demonstrations during the day — were thankful that their example was being followed at scores of protests in cities around the world this week. They disowned those who committed destructive acts — but they saw even the cleanup efforts being done largely by volunteers as another opportunity to set a constructive example. “This is not about saying, ‘Go away protesters,’ ” said Leah Bailey, a sometime protester herself, as she and her neighbors and their children spent Thanksgiving morning painting murals on the plywood that covers the broken glass windows of a dozen buildings on South Florissant Avenue, a particularly intense nightly demonstration zone because Ferguson police headquarters are here. “We’ve been out protesting, we’ve been out holding signs, we’ve been talking to our council people and mayor. We know we have some deep-seated issues to address and change.” Avi Ryan, 13, was on a ladder, brushing red paint into the outline of the big dragon she designed for the plywood covering the trashed Chinese restaurant. Beside her, on the façade of the dental office, was a Lorax-inspired scene she helped paint Wednesday with a hand-lettered motto from that wise fable: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Residents have watched with some amazement, and a little cringing, as Ferguson has become an emblem and a battle cry far beyond this small, middle-class city of 21,000 residents outside St. Louis. In central London Wednesday night, thousands of protesters marched in solidarity with the demonstrators in Ferguson and other U.S. cities. The London protesters highlighted two local cases of men being killed by police. But they also carried signs that said, “Justice for Michael Brown.” And, in British accents, they chanted the indelible slogan of the Ferguson protesters: “Hands up, don’t shoot!” Hundreds of protests ignited across the country this week, from New York to Los Angeles. On Thursday, seven people were arrested as they tried to march toward the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Associated Press reported, while 50 other demonstrators walked near the end of the annual event chanting the “Hands up, don’t shoot” slogan. And in Los Angeles, the AP reported, nearly 90 who couldn’t make a $500 bail for their arrests during protests this week were released on their own recognizance. They were among 145 people arrested during protests there Wednesday. “It’s not something that can be overlooked anymore. That is a wonderful thing,” Bailey said. On the night of the grand jury decision being announced, she and her friend Emily Davis had stood peacefully outside police headquarters holding signs, until the police started firing tear gas. “It has been made obvious that this is not a St. Louis problem,” Bailey continued. “Black men and black boys are being killed by police all over. This has brought that to light. I do hope this is where change will begin. It definitely seems it’s going in that direction, because nobody is going to forget about it now.” And yet, Bailey added, the tough part about this Thanksgiving, for those who disagree with the grand jury: “Just knowing the way the decision was made by the grand jury shows we aren’t there yet.” The muralists said they plan Friday to clean up and paint at West Florissant Avenue, the harder-hit shopping strip where two dozen buildings were burned. Thursday afternoon, police continued to prevent cars and pedestrians from entering that section of West Florissant that they still consider a crime scene. As the country turned off the cable news coverage of burned buildings and tear gas to enjoy a meal with family, those here also paused to break bread. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon planned to visit a command center in the nearby suburb of Jennings, then was scheduled to join members of the National Guard for a Thanksgiving meal, according to a statement from his office. “I appreciate the sacrifice that these law enforcement officers and citizen-soldiers are making, especially during this holiday weekend,” he said. While area streets were mostly silent, many of the sanctuaries were bustling. Greater St. Mark Family Church, just outside Ferguson, held a holiday service, featuring preaching and worship. In the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis, Mount Zion Baptist Church members gathered at 7 a.m. to begin the long process of carrying out a service project that has been a year in the making. They had pledged to host a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless and disadvantaged in their community. In light of the events of recent months, they extended the invitation to protesters as well. “Before we sat down at our tables, we thought we should be a blessing to those who don’t have a table,” said the Rev. Sammie Jones, the senior pastor of the 115-year-old congregation. “Our region, our community, has been through some difficult times, but we’re going to grow from them. We’re going to get better.” And those who supped at Mount Zion’s table on Thursday left with more than full bellies. In addition to the spread — turkey, the fixings, pies, cakes — they also set up a shopping center and hair salon. Each of the 70 or so people walked out with a new outfit and hairdo. “How many of us are one paycheck away from the homeless shelter ourselves?” asked Liz Beeks, a church member who volunteered at the event. “But [they] were all dignified. They were so grateful.” About midway through the meal, an unkempt homeless man in his 60s or 70s entered the church gym. He didn’t want food or clothes. He just wanted a razor and a mirror. He insisted to the volunteer that he would clean up after himself, not to worry. So they led him to a bathroom. When he emerged, he wore a proud smile — and an expertly groomed goatee. For 21 years, he explained to them, he had been a professional barber. But this was the first time in months he’d been able to groom his own whiskers, he said. “Even after the pain of the past week, the smiles and the thank-yous were enough themselves to remind us of how blessed we are,” said Sandra Jones, the church’s first lady, as she reflected on the self-sufficient barber. “He was one of those smiles.” |