Friends,
 I'm thrilled to announce that FOR, in partnership with South City Solidarity and Lane4 Events, has organized a St. Louis event to benefit jail support in Ferguson, featuring Saul Williams, Suheir Hammad, and local legend Nappy DJ Needles.
WHAT: World-renowned artists Saul Williams and Suheir Hammad to play a one-night only benefit show with Nappy DJ Needles. Suggested donation of $20; no one turned away. All proceeds going to the Jail Support and Bail Fund of the Don't Shoot Coalition.
WHEN: 8:00 PM this Thursday, Jan. 15
WHERE: 333 North Beaumont, St Louis, MO (view map)
Join us in St. Louis this Thursday
We hope you will join us at this fundraiser on Thursday and invite your friends and colleagues.
If you can't make it but would like to support the work of activists in Ferguson and St. Louis, you can make an online donation to the Legal Support Fund for Justice for Michael Brown. The fund is being organized for Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, Organization for Black Struggle, and the Don't Shoot Coalition, of which FOR is a part.
View and share the event on Facebook.
Why jail support is necessary
In a recent year end summary, the jail support team revealed at least 600 people have been arrested in Ferguson, St. Louis City and County since the Aug. 9 killing of Michael Brown, many on spurious and highly questionable grounds, such as the so-called "Five-Second Rule."
Punitive bonds and holds for minor breaches have been commonplace. Amnesty International and legal observers, medics and journalists have all been targeted for arrest as police routinely abused freedoms of assembly and free speech.
Activists recently won a temporary restraining order from a federal judge (since extended for a further 45 days) against police for their indiscriminate use of chemical weapons.
Poet, actor and activist Saul Williams said, "I'm coming to Ferguson to engage with a new generation of activists and artists who are rightfully fed-up with this nation's slow crawl to justice. I'm coming to insist that our voices matter. It's the least that I can do and a very practical way of sharing my talent."
 Rev. Osagyefo Sekou of FOR, who himself was arrested twice in Ferguson, says "The brutal and highly militarized repression of a grieving community I witnessed here is a ghastly stain on this country's aspirations to democracy.
"That so many brave people were arrested -- often violently and without proper cause -- only underlines the deep suspicion many in this community already had that police and the so-called justice system are not here to protect, serve or represent us.
"FOR is honored to be involved in bringing these two multi-faceted artists, activists and renaissance revolutionaries to St. Louis, and to support the never ending work of all the jail support and legal teams," said Rev. Sekou.
Given the clear constitutional breaches, well-documented unwarranted use of force, untimely holds and exorbitant bonds, many groups are calling for amnesty for those arrested during protests.
Join FOR and local activists in St. Louis this Thursday, or if you can't make it, consider donating to the legal support fund.
In peace,
Ethan Vesely-Flad
Director of National Organizing
Fellowship of Reconciliation |
