Ferguson, Missouri (a suburb of the St. Louis area) is making the national news. But not in a good way. On Saturday Michael Brown, an African-American teenager, was killed in an altercation with the police. Afterwards the officer gave his version of what happened. A friend of Michael Brown contradicted that version. The incident turned into 'he said, she said', and racial tensions began running high.
Last night there was a candlelight vigil that turned violent. Several businesses were looted, and a gas station was burned.
On the way to work today I heard the young man's parents were going to hold a press conference about the matter, but Ferguson isn't particularly close to the mall so I didn't think any more about it. Shortly after I opened the Customer Service desk I got a call from the main office letting me know there'd been rumors on social media that some people were calling for incidents at several places, including this mall. They were aware of it, and had extra Security guards and police officers on the floor.
For a while after I hung up the phone I startled at every strange noise, but after an hour or so I relaxed. There was indeed an extra safety presence, although they looked a little bored. Over the course of my shift I fielded several calls asking me if the mall was open. (I guess those people had heard the rumors, too). When my co-worker arrived to relieve me mid-afternoon I passed on everything I'd been told. We agreed we hoped the sad issue resolves itself soon.
I saw this on the news....so sad!
ReplyDeleteYes, and (even sadder) there was more violence last night.
DeleteTerrible news, let's hope for a non violent solution.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for that every day.
DeleteThe world is a scary place! Makes you want to hide, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteHiding might be good, but in the meantime I have to go to work today. I suspect the same level of public safety will be in place for the foreseeable future
DeleteUpon hearing this news I had thought of you and assumed it must be close by but perhaps in an opposite direction to the what seems to be the very upscale neighborhood in which you live. Such a senseless situation all the way around. Just more tragic news piled on what we are already hearing.
ReplyDeleteFerguson is an inner-ring suburb not too far from where I grew up. The children there are in the same school district I went to (but a different high school).
DeleteThanks for your assessment of my neighborhood as 'very upscale'. It's not, although our subdivision is filled with large newer houses.
How sad! As far as we've evolved as humans, it sometimes seems like we haven't evolved at all - especially when you hear of situations like this! Very sad.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right.
DeleteThis is sad and awfully scary. I've felt a sort of horrible prejudice directly to me a couple of times while in Illinois. I remember talking to some of my African American teacher friends about the experience after it had just happened and they hugged me saying I now understood just a little of what they go through all the time. I've never forgotten that and can see what that rage feels like.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that after the 1960s much of the prejudice disappeared..then something like this happens and I realize I've stuck my head in the sand.
DeleteSuch a sad, sad situation. We see these things on the news but never think they will land in our laps like this story did for you. Sending wishes for peace, including peace for the family of the young man who was killed.
ReplyDeleteIt seems very strange to turn on a non-local newscast and hear our area being mentioned. It was even on the BBC overnight.
DeleteYep made the news here on the west coast of Canada too. What a very sad situation. My heart goes out to his family.
ReplyDeleteWe've even heard about it on the BBC feed we listen to overnight. I'll be VERY glad when things are back to normal.
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