Just a day after the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, the city of Ferguson was placed in a state of emergency, leaving many to realize not much has changed since the teen’s untimely death one year ago.
On Sunday morning and throughout the afternoon, the city of Ferguson was filled with activists, friends, supporters, and family of the 18-year-old who was killed by Officer Darren Wilson. Brown’s death sparked a national (and arguably international) demand for police reform and fostered an ongoing conversation about racism in America.
Thousands descended upon the city to show their respect to Brown and his family, participating in peaceful demonstrations meant to change a system that too often ends with the death of young Black men, women, and children.
There was also a moment of silence held for four and a half minutes, alluding to the four and half hours Brown’s body lay in the street before an ambulance arrived.
But as night fell, police in riot gear took to the streets. Shortly after midnight, a man identified as Tyrone Harris allegedly shot at police officers, who returned fire. Protests continued, police outfitted with militarized equipment stood guard, and tear gas was used to disperse crowds.
While we’re in what has become a powerful and large Black liberation movement, the images of unrest looked strikingly familiar to the ones of last year. Take a look at these side-by-side photos (below) that prove not much has changed in Ferguson since that fateful August.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter | VIDEO CREDIT: YouTube
1. 2014: Michael Brown's lifeless body was left in the streets of Ferguson for more than four hours after he was killed by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9.
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2. 2015: Tyrone Harris, 18, was shot in Ferguson Sunday night by police for allegedly attacking them with a firearm. He remains in critical condition and is facing four charges of first-degree assault on law enforcement, five counts of armed criminal action, and one count of discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle.
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3. 2014: Unrest in Ferguson plagued the city after police officers clashed with protesters.
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4. 2015: Police stand to maintain the crowd after shots rang out on the anniversary of Mike Brown's death.
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5. 2014: An unarmed protester was approached by police during protests in Ferguson. The image became one of the most memorable of the city's uprising.
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6. 2015: A woman stands before police with her hands up in the air.
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7. 2014: After the shooting of Mike Brown and the death of Eric Garner, unrest continued to rise in Ferguson. After it was determined that Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the fatal shooting of the teen, protesters took to the streets.
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8. 2015: Since the death of Brown, over 100 men, women, and children of color have been killed by police. Worldwide protests have continued advocating for better training for police officers.
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9. 2014: A woman hit with pepper spray is doused with milk. Ferguson police issued curfews for protesters after incidents of arson and looting occurred during peaceful protests in the city.
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10. 2015: A year later, protesters say they too were hit with tear gas while protesting in the streets.
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11. 2014: The National Guard was called into Ferguson to "control" protests.
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12. 2015: A teen is caught in the crossfire during a shooting that took place in Ferguson on the anniversary of Mike Brown's death.
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13. 2014: Army tanks filled the streets of Ferguson after protests turned violent in the city.
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14. 2015: St. Louis police with army gear arrive in Ferguson Sunday night.
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Continue reading Photographic Proof Not Much Has Changed In Ferguson Since Michael Brown’s Death
Photographic Proof Not Much Has Changed In Ferguson Since Michael Brown's Death