Slideshow: Los Angeles protesters join National Moment of Silence
Los Angeles Protesters Share Bonds of Anger and Frustration with Ferguson, Missouri as Hundreds Join in NMOS Vigil
The fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson – and a militarized police response to local protests – prompted nationwide vigils in dozens of cities across the United States on Thursday.
The National Moment of Silence (NMOS) vigils were organized quickly online and drew sizable crowds in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Detroit.
The hundreds of protesters who gathered at Leimert Plaza Park in South Los Angeles also memorialized Ezell Ford. The 26-year-old was killed after a violent confrontation with Los Angeles police officers on August 11, 2014; two days after the death of Michael Brown. Ford was also unarmed.
This week’s shootings once again call into question who communities can hold police accountable for fatal shootings of unarmed civilians. The response to protests in Ferguson – a suburb of St. Louis – have also prompted discussions about the militarization of domestic police forces.
All photos copyrighted by Lena Nozizwe.
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- In sharp contrast to the military-like police presence in Ferguson, the uniformed presence of the Los Angeles Police Department at the rally was low-key.
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- Veteran Los Angeles activist Najee Ali (R)listened as fellow activists and protesters shared their views on the police shootings of unarmed men in Los Angeles and in Ferguson, MO.
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- Flanked by her sons, a protester and mother gives a video interview explaining the importance of bringing her sons with her to the rally.
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- A protester raises a sign that memorialized everyone from Emmett Till to Ezell Ford.
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- From Twitter, to Instagram and Facebook, many protesters said that social media prompted them to come to the rally which was the brainchild of a blogger.
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- The hundreds of protesters gathered at Leimert Park Plaza all had the opportunity to speak out about the community and the shootings.
