After Michael Brown’s death, anti-racist protest in Britain, USA

This video from the USA says about itself:

Was This Murdered Teen Throwing Gang Signs? #IfTheyGunnedMeDown

11 August 2014

“In the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, African-Americans have taken to Twitter to wonder how the media would portray them if they should be the victim of a police shooting.

While initial photos showed Michael Brown in a cap and gown at his high school graduation, media organizations and conservative bloggers are increasingly turning to a photo (seen above) of Brown clad in a Nike Air jersey and throwing a ‘gang sign,’ as a way to sensationalize the shooting while inferring that the young man might be a ‘gangbanger.’

African-Americans remember the Trayvon Martin case when the image of a unarmed teen shot by George Zimmerman changed when bloggers posted photos of Martin throwing signs and sporting a grill, accusing him of being a gang member. For a brief period of time, a photo of another young African-American man made the rounds with conservatives asserting that it was Martin as a gang member.”

See also here.

Ferguson: A number of local workers have said that they have been arrested and then beaten up before they were released, as do a number of journalists: here.

By Joana Ramiro in Britain:

Young black men launch Twitter protest against racism

Friday 15th August 2015

#IfTheyGunnedMeDown started after the shooting of Michael Brown

A LONDON accountant became one of hundreds of young black men this week to take to Twitter in protest at institutionalised racism.

Jamal Palmer told the Star yesterday that the protest was powerful because the police could turn photos of him and his friends against them.

The #IfTheyGunnedMeDown movement was sparked by the shooting of Michael Brown, of St Louis, Missouri, who was immediately portrayed by the media as a “thug”.

Images have been published of him outside his house, looking angry in a sports jersey.

In response, black youth started publishing pictures of themselves in two different scenarios — a social and a formal one — and asking which one would the media chose if they were to die the next day.

“I’m a trained accountant but because I like to have a joke and mess about with pals, I could be portrayed as a gangster,” said Mr Palmer.

“I know the UK is much further ahead in terms of racism and prejudice than the US but it still makes you wonder.”

Mr Palmer was just one of hundreds of youngsters who joined the online protest as the #IfTheyGunnedMeDown hashtag went viral on Twitter.

Among them are young men and women keen to show that the people making gun gestures for the camera are also first-class graduates, proud carers and accomplished professionals.

Mr Palmer said sharing the picture “was just a show of support and solidarity for young black people or mixed people everywhere.”

The protest comes as a review has been launched in Scotland to consider stripping cops of firearms.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie welcomed the move yesterday, saying: “The sight of armed police on our streets while carrying out routine duties has alarmed many Scots.”

And blaming the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling for “brushing off” the issue, Mr Harvie argued: “There is a strong case for ministers being held to account on this dramatic change in our policing culture.”

“If the firearms policy isn’t challenged it will represent a major failure of accountability.”

ALL QUIET ON THE MIDWESTERN FRONT? “There was a stark change Thursday from a day earlier in this St. Louis suburb, with police officers from the city of St. Louis mingling with people protesting the weekend shooting death of teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer. The scene was in sharp contrast to Wednesday, when officers in riot gear led by St. Louis County police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd.” Release of the name of the officer who shot Brown is imminent, and nationwide calls to demilitarize police forces are growing. [HuffPost]

On Thursday, demonstrations and vigils were held across the United States mourning the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown—murdered by police on August 9 in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri. Those attending the demonstrations denounced the continuing attacks on demonstrators carried out by a heavily militarized police force: here.

Britain: If the political elite start using the police as an army against social dissent, it’s no surprise when some of them turn rogue, writes SOLOMON HUGHES: here.