Ferguson August 9, 2014 - 2016
The August 9, 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson by police officer Darren Wilson led to an immediate and prolonged response. People began street demonstrations and protests against the shooting, and in support of complaints of racial inequity and injustice. Local demonstrations led to a national movement called “Black Lives Matter,” and to extensive discussion of civil rights issues in modern America. St. Louis on the Air is proud to have been a part of these discussions. Continuing St. Louis Public Radio’s “St. Louis History in Black and White” project, what follows are some of the programs and segments devoted to the Ferguson story.
April 1, 2015
The role of the library in Ferguson/Ferguson with Scott Bonner, Ferguson Library Director, and Carol Swartout Klein, author of Painting for Peace in Ferguson.
May 20, 2015
Black and Blue, a play about Ferguson. Cecilia Nadal of Gitana Productions, playwright Lee Patton Chiles, actors Carolyn Moore and Valeri Felix.
Aug. 19, 2014
The ongoing turmoil in Ferguson brought into focus issues of racial justice, diversity and understanding. Racial confrontation inevitably brings calls for dialogue. This program seeks to determine how to have those conversations. Guests are Reena Hajat of Diversity Awareness Partnership and Amy Hunter of YWCA’s Director of Racial Justice. The segment begins with a live update.
Aug. 26, 2014
The Ferguson story also brought to the fore a list of issues that had been long-simmering in Ferguson and elsewhere. They include equality in justice, employment, and in governance. This program was produced in advance of a Michel Martin hosted Town Hall Meeting to be held in Ferguson a few days later. Guests included Michel Martin, Journalist Sylvester Brown, and Beyond Housing CEO Chris Krehmeyer.
Sept. 22, 2014
Ferguson six weeks after the shooting death of Michael Brown. An update. Guests include Activist Johnetta Elzie, Senator Marie Chappelle Nadal, and Law Professor Peter Joy.
March 9, 2015
Ferguson Commission Co-Chairman Starsky Wilson discusses recently released Dept. of Justice report on abusive practices in Ferguson.
Sept. 14, 2015
Jason Rosenbaum previews the Ferguson Commission report.
Aug. 20, 2014
This segment focuses on the role of religious leaders in Ferguson. Guests are Rev. Willis Johnson of Wellspring Church in Ferguson, Rev. BT Rice of New Horizon 7th Day Christian Church in Cool Valey, and Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation. The segment begins with a live update.
Aug. 12, 2015
Professor Leah Gunning Francis from Eden Theological Seminary is the author of Ferguson and Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community.
Aug. 11, 2014
The first St. Louis on the Air program following the Brown shooting. A candlelight vigil, street demonstrations, violence, and looting followed the Brown shooting. There were many arrests in a tension-filled community. State Senator Maria Chappelle Nadal, whose district includes Ferguson, joined us to talk about the situation. Later we spoke with Lewis Reed, President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen who was in studio for an interview scheduled before the Brown shooting.
Aug. 29, 2014
The Michel Martin Town Hall meeting in Ferguson included numerous people involved in the Ferguson story, including members of the political, religious, and activist communities.
Dec. 3, 2014
Rich McClure on the Ferguson Commission.
Feb. 9, 2015
Discussion on six month anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. St. Louis Public Radio Reporter Emanuele Berry, Educator Gregory Carr, Activist Johnetta Elzie, Rev. Willis Johnson of Wellspring Church, and Ferguson Township Democratic Committeewoman Patricia Bynes.
March 24 & 25, 2015
NPR's Michel Martin at Ferguson Town Hall Meeting at Wellspring Church. A two-part life event combined into one.
Aug. 10, 2015
Brown shooting one year anniversary. Hear from Brittany Packnett of the Ferguson Commission and President’s Commission on 21st century policing; Dan Isom, Former STL Police Chief and Ferguson Commission member; Wesley Bell, Ferguson City Council member; DeRay McKesson, activist; Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio reporter.
Sept. 21 & 22, 2015
St. Louis on the Air Ferguson Town Hall Meeting. A two-part live event combined into one.
Nov. 17, 2015
"The Ethics of Ferguson: Policing, Prosecuting, and Protesting" with Bernice King (Martin Luther King’s daughter); Dan Isom, Ferguson Commission member and former St. Louis Police Chief; Dr. Wally Siewert, Director of Center for Ethics in Public Life at the University of Missouri St. Louis.
Nov. 14, 2014
The chiefs of police in St. Louis County and St. Louis City weigh in on law enforcement reaction to the Michael Brown shooting and its aftermath. Hear from Chiefs Dotson and Belmar.
Dec. 31, 2014
A Ferguson review with several people prominent in the story. Patricia Bynes, Ferguson Township Democratic Committeewoman; Rev. Willis Johnson of Wellspring Church; activist Johnetta Elzie; Brittany Packnett of the Ferguson Commission and President’s Commission on 21st Century Policing; and others.
March 4, 2015
Reactions to the Deptartment of Justice report on Ferguson with Patricia Bynes, Ferguson Democratic Committeewoman; Jim Howard, St. Louis Public Radio D.C. correspondent; and journalist/attorney Bill Freivogel.
March 5, 2015
The second day of reaction to Department of Justice report on Ferguson with Journalist/Attorney Bill Freivogel and St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jason Rosenbaum.
March 18, 2015
Brittany Packnett, a member of the Ferguson Commission and a member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Commission, discusses Ferguson relative to her membership on both the Commission and Task Force. A second segment deals with the role mediation can play in resolving disputes like those which emerged in Ferguson. The guests are John Doggette, Executive Director of Community Mediation Services in St. Louis, and James Regier, mediation coordinator with that organization.
May 7, 2015
Dan Isom, former STL Police Chief and Ferguson Commission member, and Karen Aroesty of the regional Anti-Defamation League speak on police training.
Sept. 17, 2014
Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense Counsel on Ferguson.
Sept. 30, 2014
Discussion of fines and fees issues. Fines and fees became one of the major issues to arise in the Michael Brown fallout, and ultimately led to legislation seeking to correct the problem. Guests include Thomas Harvey of City Arch City Defenders, Brandan Roediger SLU Law Professor, and Frank Vatterot, a municipal judge in Overland, MO.
Nov. 25, 2014
Reaction to the St. Louis County Grand Jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. The segment features Ferguson Democratic Committeewoman Patricia Bynes.
Aug. 25, 2014
Educator John Wright on Ferguson.
Sept. 29, 2014
Columbia U. Legal scholar Patricia Williams reflects on the many issues that arose following the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. Professor Williams is a Harvard Law School graduate, author, and columnist. Her column, Diary of a Mad Law Professor, appears regularly in the magazine The Nation.
March 17, 2015
NPR’s Michel Martin and Antonio French on Ferguson in advance of St. Louis Public Radio’s Ferguson Town Hall meeting.
April 15, 2015
Ferguson in historical context. Historians Peter Kastor of Washington University, Donna Murch of Rutgers University, and Patty Limerick of the Org. of American Historians.
June 24, 2015
A discussion of the Ferguson Truth Telling Project (designed to get at root issues in Ferguson) with Ferguson activist Pastor Cori Bush, author and educator Dr. Imani Scott, and Professor David Ragland of the Truth Telling Project.
April 21, 2015
Civil rights icon Frankie Freeman on Ferguson and other civil rights topics.
Oct. 1, 2014
St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch on criticism of his handling of the Michael Brown shooting and the grand jury investigation. A separate interview with two Ferguson residents who believe the criticism of Ferguson by some residents, demonstrators, and critics, is not representative of how most residents feel.
Aug. 28, 2014
St. Louis area black leadership on Ferguson. Ferguson Democratic committeewoman Patrician Bynes, St. Louis American Publisher Donald Suggs, and Mike Jones, then Chief of Staff to County Executive Charlie Dooley, give their perspective on the ongoing turmoil in and involving Ferguson.
Dec. 2, 2014
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles discusses the previous day’s decision by city police officer Darren Wilson to resign from the force in order to help the healing process. In a separate segment, Christ Church Cathedral Dean Kinman discusses his proposal that area clergy step forward to lead the conversation on issues raised by the Michael Brown shooting and its aftermath.
Dec. 4, 2014
Former Mayor Brian Fletcher and the "I Love Ferguson Campaign" he started.
Dec. 29, 2014
Shula Neuman and Councilman DeWayne James of Ferguson discuss various issues.
Aug. 14, 2014
The Ferguson story had a big impact on young people and provided a “teaching moment” for them. The organization Cultural Leadership has been active for a decade in bringing kids of various backgrounds together to better understand each other and each other’s culture. Guests included Holly Ingraham, Executive Director of Cultural Leadership, Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation, and four young people who are part of the organization. This segment includes a live update from reporter Dale Singer.
Aug. 21, 2014
This episode takes a look at the impact of Ferguson on children. The guests are Greg Carr of Harris Stowe State University, Tom Lawson of McCluer High School, Steve Zwolak of University City Children’s Center. The segment begins with a live update.
Sept. 2, 2014
Young people and Ferguson. Activist Johnetta Elzie, Rapper activist Tef Poe, activist minister Jay Mitchell.
Sept. 3, 2014
Hear about an outdoor concert for Ferguson from musician Brian Owens and Ferguson Youth Initiative Board Member Wesley Bell.
Oct. 27, 2014
A discussion of Amnesty International’s report on Ferguson with Margaret Huang of AI-USA, Dr. Marva Robinson of the Association of Black Psychologists in St. Louis, and Patricia Bynes, Ferguson Township Democratic Committeewoman.