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Friday 22 August 2014

USA: "Ferguson's youth will not bow and I'm privileged to stand with the...





M/S Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou with Leon Nelson, teenager wounded by Ferguson police

C/U Leon Nelson, teenager wounded by Ferguson police

SOT, Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, Reverend and member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (in English): "The response of the police violence, we can not lose track of the way in which the level of militarised police have come down on the head of these young people. But they will not bow, and I'm privileged to stay with them."

M/S Reverend Sekou praying

SOT, Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, Reverend and member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (in English): "Whatever greatness America has it has it because black people have put their very lives on the line and held her accountable and so this is part of a rich tradition of civil disobedience and non-compliance."

W/S People praying with Reverend Sekou

C/U People holding hands while praying

SOT, Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, Reverend and member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (in English): "There is a tradition, the first African who got off the boat resisted, and we have been resisting ever since."

C/U Protest sign reading "No justice no peace"

W/S Protesters marching

SOT, Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, Reverend and member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (in English): "That night reminds me of my time in Palestine, so in 2012 I was in the West Bank and had a similar experience of being with protesters peacefully who had tear gas shot at them. It was horrifying and terrifying, and it is shameful."

W/S Reverend Sekou joining rally

M/S Reverend Sekou marching with protesters



SCRIPT



Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou once again joined Ferguson's protesters Thursday night as the campaign for the prosecution of Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot and killed Mike Brown, continued. Rev. Sekou is in Ferguson organising on behalf of the Fellowship of Reconciliation - the US's largest and longest running multi-faith peace organization. 



Rev. Sekou said he was proud of the attitude of Ferguson's protesters towards the "level of militarized police coming down on the head of these young people," and vowed to stay with them for as long as they refuse to bow. The reverend is a native of St Louis and has family in Ferguson. Sekou describes his presence at the protests to be that of non-violent witness. 



The reverend's campaigns for peace and his activism include opposition to the Iraq war, where he led a campaign of civil disobedience in order to pressure the US government to end its occupation. He also was part of an activist campaign in Palestine in 2012. 

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