Ellie and Carleton, Words cannot express my dismay over this situation! I cannot help but feel that I'm reading the same chapter from the same book that I've been reading for over 50 years! Keeping those grieving, you and all those who care as well as the city in prayer. Joyce On Aug 13, 2014 8:57 PM, "Ellie Stock via Dialogue" < dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Greetings and a quick update from Ferguson/Dellwood (St. Louis):
There were two community meetings that night sponsored by black leaders--a little juggling of power control in the black community. The first one planned was a strategy session convened by a city-wide clergy coalition, attended by the Mayor of Ferguson, the Police Chief, the Mayor of St Louis, and Governor Nixon. A second competing one was convened by a local pastor who also happens to be a state representative and was attended by Al Sharpton, Michael Brown's family and their lawyer, and other clergy and community reps. We didn't attend either meeting as we had leadership responsibilities for another meeting held at the same time. We saw reports of both meetings on TV and clergy colleagues who attended gave reports today at a special meeting of our ministerial alliance. The alliance is planning a vigil and working on other long-term strategies.
While attention on the media has focused on the confrontations between groups of protestors and armored police, here is what is not making the news:
-interracial groups of volunteers going to business along West Florissant Road to help them clean up; -many businesses, that were looted, determined to stay and opening up the next day; -peaceful prayer vigils and marches springing up all over; -many more meetings being planned by many different groups to address the situation at many levels; -people stopping by looted businesses to encourage them and offer support
We won't know the whole story for quite a while as stories from many sides are contradictory, and the media is picking up on the most inflammatory. I don't know that anyone will be pleased with a final outcome of the judicial procedure.
West Florissant Avenue is blocked off again--probably due to some protesters, and the helicopters are still hovering as I write this...
Ellie
-----Original Message----- From: Lynda Cock <llc860@triad.rr.com> To: Ellie Stock <elliestock@aol.com> Sent: Wed, Aug 13, 2014 4:06 pm Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Prayers for Ferguson and Dellwood (St Louis, MO)
Ellie and Carleton, We watched Al Sharpton’s program with deep interest. Such a tragic situation. I was glad that he was able to elicit from the family the wish that their son’s image not be tarnished by the looting and violence. We know after things calm down, there will be much much work that you and others will have to do to restore and heal the situation. Our prayers and care for the city and for you folks and your team as well. Lynda
From: Carl & Ellie Stock <Elliestock@aol.com> Date: Monday, August 11, 2014 at 3:16 PM To: Lynda Cock <llc860@triad.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Prayers for Ferguson and Dellwood (St Louis, MO)
Thanks, Lynda. Ellie
-----Original Message----- From: Lynda Cock <llc860@triad.rr.com> To: Carl & Ellie Stock <Elliestock@aol.com> Sent: Mon, Aug 11, 2014 1:58 pm Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Prayers for Ferguson and Dellwood (St Louis, MO)
Thank you for sharing this news from your neighborhood. Certainly makes the news reports ring with a different kind of reality. I hope some spokespersons from the Dellwood and Ferguson teams you’ve been working with can also be spokespersons on the media to help calm the fury. It is so sad to see this kind of destruction in places where you have worked so diligently to help build up. Our care and prayers are with you for your safety and for the safety of the community. We are grateful for your presence and work in that community for so many years. Lynda
From: Ellie Stock via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> Reply-To: Carl & Ellie Stock <Elliestock@aol.com> Date: Monday, August 11, 2014 at 11:46 AM To: <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>, <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> Subject: [Oe List ...] Prayers for Ferguson and Dellwood (St Louis, MO)
Greetings from St. Louis (Ferguson/Dellwood)~
By now you have probably seen on national/internet media the news about the black teenager who was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer last Saturday. (Ferguson is where our ministerial alliance is, where we have our Eco Team, and the location of the Farmer's Market and Earthdance organic farm where we volunteer. It is also the location of our post office, bank and other businesses/restaurants we go to.) After the shooting, crowds of residents started gathering, remaining into Sat urday evening and Sunday morning.
Sunday we returned from doing an Earth Care Congregation presentation at St Charles PC (west of St Louis) to learn there was a prayer vigil in Ferguson regarding the shooting. We were not aware (neither was our ministerial alliance) that a vigil had been planned (by outside groups), and it ended about the time we returned home. In the evening. That evening, another peaceful vigil was held which we did not attend. Other segments of the crowd milling around the street turned violent--vandalizing and looting businesses in Ferguson, torching and destroying a Quicktrip gas station, then moving north on W. Florissant to Dellwood (where we live), looting businesses just down the street from our former church's building and few blocks from our home. Zisser's Tire and Auto Dealer, also completely looted, was where we used to have our cars serviced before we got our Prius and know the owners. The police/fire dept computers were hacked and sabotaged, and all the police and elected leaders have received death threats.
Sunday night we heard the wailing of sirens outside and the police helicopter hovering overhead. We watched it all unfold on live TV coverage until after midnight. I woke up before 6am to the sound of a news media helicopter.
It is so sad and frustrating, as Ferguson and Dellwood have worked very hard to build community and attract businesses, and the churches and other organizations have worked over the years to address issues of racism and economic inequity. Unfortunately, this violence detracts from the original issue of the teen's death and the underlying racial tension and disparity in so many communities. Our ministerial alliance is now discerning how best to engage in this situation. When the media is all gone, we will still be left with the follow-up and real work.
There is a community meeting tonight with the NAACP, Al Sharpton, etc., but I fear it could be hijacked by more media-centric or violent elements. Carleton is still deciding whether or not to attend.
Please remember the Ferguson situation in prayer. Presently another peaceful demonstration is filling the streets and the helicopters are still hovering...
Ellie elliestock@aol.com
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