Monday night’s Ferguson town hall meetings were limited to Ferguson residents. Ahead of the meetings, city council members and city leaders said they would clear up “misconceptions” about the city. Members of the media were not allowed to participate, a restriction that Ferguson spokesman Devin James said was imposed by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Services.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist Josh Renaud is a Ferguson resident and attended Monday’s meeting at Wellspring Church. (A second meeting was held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Ferguson. A third meeting at City Hall was canceled.) Renaud tweeted about the meeting after it ended.
I attended one of tonight’s #ferguson #townhall meetings as a resident. I came away feeling it was constructive, but still long way to go.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
DOJ facilitator asked for media to identify themselves. I did so, explained I was Ferguson resident employed at @stltoday, not a reporter.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
One ground rule was no recording. One man insisted on recording. Facilitator threatened to walk out. Crowd shouted at man, and he left.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Beyond that, no yelling or screaming except occasional “Louder!” or “We can’t hear you.” Very different from last city council meeting.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Residents shared stories of problems with tickets, warrants, police; some said #michaelbrown shooting had opened their eyes to injustices.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Some said they welcomed protests that were peaceful and respectful, but felt recent actions at farmers market, etc had crossed line.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Many asked what #ferguson police would do to protect residents and businesses from civil unrest or protests that get out of hand.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
One speaker said that civil unrest was the voice of the unheard.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Many #ferguson residents talked of love for community and desire to unite, move forward. Tired of way media has portrayed the community.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
One thing that stuck with me: resident said she believed #Ferguson had been chosen for “just such a time as this.” (ref. to Esther 4:14)
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Council member picked up on this idea later, “There’s going to be a new normal. I don’t know what it will look like ….” (1/2)
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
“…. but I believe there was a reason Ferguson was chosen.”
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Another councilman said of court reforms, that people would see other communities follow, because #ferguson would do it right.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
I asked facilitator after meeting if next #townhalls would be closed to media. Still to be determined, facilitator said.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
One councilman said he was defense attorney, and knows what residents mean when they describe racial profiling. (1/2)
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
Says he supports all proposed court reforms on the agenda for tomorrow night’s #ferguson city council meeting. (2/2)
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
As a resident, I liked tenor of meeting, glad people felt free to speak honestly, openly. As journalist, wish reporters had been allowed in.
— Josh Renaud (@Kirkman) September 23, 2014
The city has scheduled four more meetings:
- Sept. 30: Address communications to/from Ferguson leadership
- Oct. 7: Address diversity and racial tension
- Oct. 21: Roadmap for growth: Where do we go from here?
- Nov. 4: Opportunities for youth/civic engagement
Locations for those meeting have not been announced.
The Department of Justice also will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Louis Community College–Florissant Valley student center, 3400 Pershall Road. Investigators are asking people to share stories about their interactions with the Ferguson Police Department and jail system.
DOJ holds public mtg Wed: update community on its investigation of #Ferguson PD & to "speak privately" if needed. pic.twitter.com/Wn5LRUqkTR
— Casey Nolen KSDK (@CaseyNolen) September 23, 2014