While hundreds protested in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia and Chicago Monday night following the announcement that a grand jury in St. Louis County brought no criminal charges against Darren Wilson, a white officer who shot and killed unarmed black teen Michael Brown this summer, Caribbean celebrities took to social media to voice their own disgust.
Barbados-born superstar Rihanna, always one to voice her opinion on issues of interest, tweeted a picture to her followers via Instagram that summed up the issue of police killings of blacks in America accurately. The photo featured a young black man holding up a sign that read in all-capped Yellow letters: “Justice For ……” And below it continued: “I left it blank because I’ll probably need this next year.”
Below it Riri wrote one word: “true.”
NBC The Voice Season 6 winner, Jamaican Tessanne Chin, took to Facebook to post a graphic of the slain teen, Michael Brown along with Trayvon Martin arm in arm under the caption: “#WeSpeakOfJusticeButNobodyLivesThere #PrayersGoingOut #PrayersGoingUp #PrayingForTheFamiliesThatAreInPain.”
Jamaican American Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph also took to Twitter to urge for peace noting and for supporters to: “Remember a Mothers loss tonight.”
“ #stand with her and #pray for #peace across America,” Ralph added.
Speaking as a mother, Haitian American actress Garcelle Beauvais asked the difficult question many black mothers are asking across America. “What do I tell my children?”
“So sad by this verdict smh #FergusonDecision #WeMatter #keepourheadup,” she added on Twittter.
Actress Megan Goode and Stacey Dash, whose roots stretch to Barbados, both also weighed in on the verdict.
Goodee posted via Instagram: “#PrayersForMikeBrownsFamily #NoJustice #ThisIsBs,” while Dash, added: “#PrayingforFerguson.”
Trinidad-American actor Romany Malco was less emotive and more visionary as he urged: “We could empower ourselves so much more if we collectively stopped spending. Don’t go spending this Black Friday.”
St. Louis County prosecutor, Robert P. McCulloch said at 8 p.m. central time Monday night that Officer Wilson had faced charges ranging from first-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter. He said the jury of nine whites and three blacks failed to indict Wilson.
Brown’s family issued a statement expressing sadness, but called for peaceful protest and a campaign to require body cameras on police officers nationwide.
“We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions,” the statement said. “While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.”
President Obama also appealed for peaceful protest and “care and restraint,” even as he said the situation speaks to broader racial challenges in America.
But the news set off a new wave of anger. Bottles and rocks were thrown at officers and windows of businesses were smashed.
Several police cars were burned; buildings, including a Walgreens, a meat market and a storage facility, were set on fire, and looting was reported in several businesses.
Jon Belmar, the St. Louis County police chief, said at least a dozen buildings had been set on fire.
Gunshots could also be heard along the streets of Ferguson, and law enforcement authorities deployed smoke and gas to control the crowds.
In St. Louis, protesters swarmed Interstate 44 and blocked all traffic near the neighborhood where another man was shot by police this fall. Police said 29 people were arrested as of late last night.
This Twitter user, Rachel O’Leary, posted this picture from Ferguson: “Was just in a cafe full of people resting from the #Ferguson protests when police shot tear gas at safe space.”
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