Ferguson to mark one year anniversary of shooting days after latest black death

The father of Michael Brown will lead official events in Ferguson, Missouri, today to mark the first anniversary of the unarmed black teenager’s killing by a white police officer. The commemorations in the St Louis suburb - including a memorial service attended by the Brown family - come two days after the killing of 19-year-old Christian Taylor by a white trainee officer in Texas. Last year, Michael Brown’s death sparked days of protest in Ferguson. The decision not to charge officer Darren Wilson caused renewed anger. A government report later found systemic abuses of the black community.

We can’t keep still, we can’t keep quiet about the injustices that are happening to our young men and women every day.

Deanne Joseph, who blames police for her son Andrew’s death in Florida in February

Ferguson was followed by a string of incidents across the country, many caught on camera, in which black men and women died after confrontations with law enforcement. Michael Brown Senior will lead today’s march from the makeshift memorial at the spot on Canfield Drive where his son died. He visited the memorial on Saturday and called on those protesting to act peacefully this weekend. A protest march involving around 300 people brought West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson - the scene of much of last year’s rioting - to a standstill.

The police don’t surprise me anymore and I’m not very hopeful that their behaviour will change. But I do know we have power to make things happen, and I’m confident in the people standing behind me.

Nabeehah Azee, community organiser for MORE, Missourians Organising for Reform and Empowerment