Michael Brown protesters clash with Martin Luther King Day observers
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/...cle_8f839364-67f0-5fd9-83e8-82ef39a8c01f.html
UPDATE, 1:50 p.m: Protesters invoking Michael Brown and Ferguson burst into an auditorium at Harris-Stowe State University early Monday afternoon and briefly shut down a Martin Luther King Day celebration.
The protesters and Harris-Stowe students later confronted each other outside the venue, as police converged on the area.
Shortly before 1 p.m., as the King observance was in progress in the crowded auditorium, about two-dozen protesters came in waving an upside-down American flag and chanting "No Justice, No Peace."
They took the stage, and as the crowd began filing out angrily, they used a microphone to accuse the university and the clergy who were in attendance of being part of the "establishment."
Protesters left the stage and left the building after Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, appealed for calm. But later, the protesters and Harris-Stowe students confronted each other about the disrupted event.
"They came in here (being) so very disrespectful,” said Harris-Stowe freshman Shaquell Humphries, 18. "There are old folks and little kids in that auditorium and they (the protesters) started cussing.”
Mary V. Walker, 66, of Bellefontaine, called the protesters "completely disrespectful. It don't represent Harris Stowe."
"Everyone is angry but why take it out on innocent people? We came out here to enjoy this day."
The King ceremony later resumed.
ST. LOUIS • This year's annual recognition of Martin Luther King Day in St. Louis is doubling as a review of the issues raised by Ferguson unrest in recent months.
At the Old Courthouse downtown, hundreds of people gathered this morning in the rotunda, singing hymns, holding hands and listening to speeches.
Outside, hundreds more gathered on the sidewalks and across the street at Kiener Plaza. They wore T-shirts that said, “Justice for Mike Brown” and carried signs that said “Black Lives Matter.”
Among the crowd was Jimmy Dixon, of Chicago, who traveled to St. Louis with his wife, Teresa, and children Michelle, 12, and Mario, 9, to spend Martin Luther King Day in the city that has become the current center of America's ongoing racial debates.
“We're here because we want our children to know how important this is,” said Dixon, “and that there were brave people who came before them that made sacrifices so that they could have more than their parents and their grandparents did.”
Johnetta Elzie, 25, a major presence at the protests since the killing of Brown, said "I feel good," as she stood outside the Old Courthouse. "I just hope we keep true to who and what Martin Luther King stood for."
Elzie said people tended to emphasize the more docile side of King, rather than his confrontational side. Elzie would later implore those sitting inside the Harris-Stowe auditorium to leave and join the young protesters outside.
Participants at the civic ceremony later began marching to Harris-Stowe State University for a 12:30 p.m. interfaith service. But a large contingent of perhaps 250 people split off from the march and headed to the New Life Evangelistic Center, a homeless shelter downtown. "Homeless lives matter," they chanted, and speakers described how King also fought for economic justice.
Last month St. Louis moved to revoke the license that allows New Life to operate as a shelter. The revocation is effective May 12, unless the center complies with city regulations.
The decision came after more than a year of hearings. A group of downtown residents and developers brought the matter before the city's Board of Public Service in 2013, alleging that the shelter is a drag on downtown, preventing investment in the city’s hub. The residents complained that the shelter, at 1411 Locust Street, was operated in a way that encouraged violence and crime outside of its doors.
New Life’s occupancy permit allows it to have a maximum of 32 beds, but many nights, it allows upwards of 300 people to stay in the shelter. The Rev. Larry Rice, who operates the shelter, says New Life provides needed emergency overnight assistance and has vowed to fight the city.
The crowd later continued marching on to Harris-Stowe.
Among other events today:
Musical celebration • Local musicians perform. 1 p.m. Monday, Keating Auditorium, Kirkwood High School, 801 West Essex Avenue. A $5 donation is suggested to help provide scholarships. Students are admitted free. Sponsored by the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association and Kirkwood School District. 314-690-1691 or meachamparknia.org
Reading Dr. King • A daylong observance. Sit and listen, or take part in reading the writings and speeches of King. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal Church, 13th and Locust streets. 314-231-3454 or
mkinman@christchurchcathedral.us
UMSL observance • Guest speaker Lani Guinier, civil rights attorney, and Chris and Kyle with True Spirit. 10 a.m. Monday, Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, One University Boulevard. Free. 314-516-5695 or umsl.edu
Unity Walk, rally • Walk begins at 11 a.m. Monday, from Wentzville City Hall, 310 West Pearce Boulevard. Rally will be at 7 p.m. Monday, at Wentzville’s Holt High School, 600 Campus Drive, with guest speaker Aeneas Williams, pastor of the Spirit of the Lord Family Church. Free. 636-357-2998 or 636-332-8800
Music and speeches • Guests include the East St. Louis High School music and drama clubs; C. Levington, pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church, and the Mount Zion Church choir. Noon Monday, Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2235 Bond Avenue, East St. Louis. Free. 618-397-6314 or
lilipark@aol.com
Poetry slam • VerbQuake Youth Poetry Slam kicks off its season of poetry performances with a competition featuring poems that explore social justice themes. 1 p.m. Monday, Urb Arts, 2600 North 14th Street. Free. 314-621-3551 or
info@urbarts.org
Day of service • The city of Berkeley will observe a day of service. 1-3 p.m. Monday, Berkeley City Hall, 8425 Airport Road. Free. 314-524-3313
WashU lecture • Charles Stith, director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University and former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, will speak. 4 p.m. Monday, Washington University School of Medicine, Eric P. Newman Center, 320 South Euclid Avenue. Free. 314-362-6854 or
medschooldiversity@wusm.wustl.edu
Musical celebration • Berean Music Auxiliary will host a musical program. 6 p.m. Monday, Riverside Missionary Baptist Church, 10047 Jeffrey Drive. Free. 314-874-6344
J.B. Forbes photo exhibit • “Who is my neighbor?” The work of the Post-Dispatch chief photographer looks at the global community’s connectedness. 6:30 p.m. Webster Groves Christian Church gallery, 1320 West Lockwood Avenue. Free. 314-961-3232
King Commemoration • Keynote speaker will be Kimberly Norwood, a law professor at Washington University. 7 p.m. Monday, Washington University Danforth Campus, Graham Chapel, 1 Brookings Drive. Free. 314-935-5059 or
rudolphc@wustl.edu
Koran Addo and Kevin McDermott of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report