People Of Ferguson: A Photo Series (Pt .2)
On August 15, 2014, photojournalist Antonio Thompson explored the streets of Ferguson to get a sense of the people and their mission. Their stories are both common and unique—inspiring and hopeful. These are the people of Ferguson—in their own words.
See: People Of Ferguson: A Photo Series (Pt. 1)
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Kevin
“I’ve lived here all my entire life. I can tell you that the days ain’t easy. [Police brutality] has been going on since the first days I can remember being a child. So it ain’t just about today. It’s bigger than today. It’s about all the days we have to fight until we get justice. And we will fight and be out here and do what we have to do until we get justice. That’s all we want.”
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Tracy (2nd from left, pictured with sons Tremel, Tyler, Trevion, and daughter India)
“I want a better world for my sons and daughter. Bu we have to fight for a better world. We have to come together as families to understand that it takes families and communities to work together to make a better world. I don’t want us to have to grieve for another young, black life. Being a mother, I don’t want to grieve over another child.”
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State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal ((D), 72nd district of MO, holding cardboard cutout of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon)
“The past few days do not represent Ferguson as a whole community, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. I was a victim alongside my constituents being tear-gassed and shot with rubber bullets. But we won’t back down! We still want to know what all the facts are that led to Michael Brown being killed. The officer could have TASERED Michael Brown – if he did commit theft or not, he had a guaranteed right to due process. That’s his right as a citizen of this country. But the officer took away [Michael Brown’s] right to a judge and jury and due process. The very troubling issue here is that young people are continuously targeted, intimidated and harassed, and they’re sick and tired of it. And that’s what these demonstrations are about.”
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Kimberly Turner (daughter) and Denise Turner
“We’re part of a non-profit called Power to the People. This community is majority African-American, but underrepresented in government and law enforcement. So we came out here to register people to vote. That’t how we want to contribute to the days ahead and that’s how we choose to protest. We want all these people – young and old – to know that if we really want change and if we’re really angry, then change starts in the voting booth. This is your right, and it’s your power. And you must exercise your power.” See: People Of Ferguson: A Photo Series (Pt. 3)
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