Dozens arrested in protest; state of emergency issued in St. Louis County after Ferguson violence

By Kelsey Proud, Jason Rosenbaum & Sarah Kellogg

“….The Ferguson Police Department had control last night and it did not work out like it needed to….”

Police organization’s ‘Darren Wilson Day’ in Columbia, Mo., sparks protest, criticism

By Doug Moore

COLUMBIA, Mo. • A Facebook posting declaring Sunday ‘Darren Wilson Day’ in this college town brought protesters to the police station on Monday and strong criticism from city leaders….

Ferguson activists DeRay Mckesson, Johnetta Elzie among those arrested in St. Louis

By Wesley Lowery August 10 at 4:18 PM

ST. LOUIS – At least dozens were arrested in acts of civil disobedience in St. Louis on Monday, including several of the most prominent leaders of the Black Lives Matter Movement….

Via Twitter:

Mustafa Abdullah ‏@GlobalNomad87

The real state of emergency is the racist policing practices that are consistently deployed in black and brown neighborhoods. 4:12 PM – 10 Aug 2015

In Warrensburg at this morning’s commencement ceremony at the University of Central Missouri:

Black Lives Matter.

“…. Struggles to coerce uniformity of sentiment in support of some end thought essential to their time and country have been waged by many good as well as by evil men. Nationalism is a relatively recent phenomenon but at other times and places the ends have been racial or territorial security, support of a dynasty or regime, and particular plans for saving souls. As first and moderate methods to attain unity have failed, those bent on its accomplishment must resort to an ever-increasing severity. As governmental pressure toward unity becomes greater, so strife becomes more bitter as to whose unity it shall be. Probably no deeper division of our people could proceed from any provocation than from finding it necessary to choose what doctrine and whose program public educational officials shall compel youth to unite in embracing. Ultimate futility of such attempts to compel coherence is the lesson of every such effort from the Roman drive to stamp out Christianity as a disturber of its pagan unity, the Inquisition, as a means to religious and dynastic unity, the Siberian exiles as a means to Russian unity, down to the fast failing efforts of our present totalitarian enemies. Those who begin coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard….”

“….If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us….”

– Justice Robert Jackson, WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ET AL. v. BARNETTE ET AL., 319 U.S. 624 (1943).

Last night:

Oregon Ducks hoopers hold hands up during national anthem before game against Ole Miss

December 07, 2014 at 5:28 PM, updated December 07, 2014 at 6:10 PM

Two Oregon Ducks men’s basketball players held their hands up during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before a game against Ole Miss….

[….]

The actions are thought to be demonstrations linked to recent federal grand juries decisions to not indict police officers who had slain two African-American men, Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York….

[….]

The self-righteous indignation in some of the comments under the news story are priceless.

Previously:

Barack Obama and “The Star Spangled Banner” (October 24, 2007)

Those who ignore history are, well….stupid (October 25, 2007)

And you shall know them by their deafening silence (July 1, 2009)

Back home again in Indiana: a modest solution to our universal school funding crisis (January 1, 2012)

Yesterday, in Rosebud, Missouri.

Ferguson protestors met by hecklers

by Mark Slavit

Posted: 12.03.2014 at 6:02 PM

ROSEBUD, MO — Ferguson protestors were greeted by a large crowd of hecklers along Highway 50 in Rosebud on Wednesday afternoon as they marched to Jefferson City….

[….]

….Someone put an empty bottle of beer, a melon and some fried chicken in the path of the protestors….

“…No peace, no welfare check. Where’s Al Sharpton? Where’s the great Al Sharpton?…” – individual heckling the Journey for Justice marchers as they walked through Rosebud, Missouri.

Rosebud, Missouri is in Gasconade County.

Gasconade County, Missouri [agriculture subsidies]

$18.7 million in subsidies 1995-2012.

$11.2 million in commodity subsidies.

$3.33 million in crop insurance subsidies.

$2.70 million in conservation subsidies.

$1.48 million in disaster subsidies.

[….]

Rank Program Number of Recipients 1995-2012 Subsidy Total 1995-2012

1 Corn Subsidies** 708**   $6,843,224

2 Soybean Subsidies** 410**   $3,212,933

3 Wheat Subsidies** 678**   $2,477,156

4 Conservation Reserve Program 177   $2,261,917

5 Disaster Payments 517   $1,475,221

[….]

From the Missouri Department of Social Services:

Gasconade [County] [pdf] SFY-2013

Number of people enrolled for MO HealthNet services 1,936

MO HealthNet dollars spent in state fiscal year 20132 $18.3 mil

Estimated federal portion of MO HealthNet dollars spent $11.5 mil

MO HealthNet dollars for inpatient hospital services $1.3 mil

MO HealthNet dollars for physician services $1.0 mil

MO HealthNet dollars for nursing home services $5.3 mil

MO HealthNet dollars for pharmacy services $2.8 mil

MO HealthNet dollars for managed care payments $2.9 mil

Average monthly food stamp benefit recipients 1,980

Total food stamp benefits received $2.8 mil

Average monthly children receiving subsidized child care 58

Child care expenditures $113,439

Demographic information via the U.S. Census Bureau:

Gasconade County, Missouri

Population, 2013 estimate 14,901

White alone, percent, 2013 (a) 97.7%

Black or African American alone, percent, 2013 (a) 0.3%

Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008-2012 13.6%

Previously:

Rosebud, Missouri (December 3, 2014)

The Journey for Justice March made its way through Rosebud, Missouri today on their way to Jefferson City.

Video posted on Youtube by Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum.

Welcome to Missouri and America in the 21st century.

A press release from the office of Governor Jay Nixon:

Gov. Nixon agrees with alternative interpretation of appropriation authority offered by legislative leaders, making special session unnecessary

December 1, 2014

Jefferson City, MO

Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that a special session will not be necessary after agreeing with an alternative interpretation of current appropriation authority offered by legislative leadership.  Consistent with this reading of the law, the Governor will be using existing appropriations for the State Emergency Management Agency in HB 2008, Section 8.290 to fund the ongoing operations of the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Ferguson and the St. Louis region.

“We have an obligation to the people of Missouri and to the law enforcement officers and citizen-soldiers who are working tirelessly to protect them,” said Gov. Nixon.  “This interpretation of the law will allow these essential public safety operations to be funded without the need for a special session.”

The appropriation language in Section 8.290 has been traditionally interpreted as limited to the use of matching grants and exclusively for the expenses of the State Emergency Management Agency. Costs resulting from civil unrest are not eligible for federal reimbursement under a federal disaster declaration.  

However, in a letter to all senators, Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Kurt Schaefer wrote that the state could use the $12.5 million appropriation in Section 8.290 for costs incurred during an emergency.  “After researching this issue and discussing it with appropriations staff, I can find no apparent reason why the Governor cannot use this appropriation for either the Guard or Patrol given that he has declared a state of emergency in responding to Ferguson,” Schaefer wrote.

In a joint statement today, the House and Senate leadership have indicated they agree with this interpretation, saying “they believe the governor currently has the resources and authority to spend the necessary dollars to provide security to the communities of Ferguson and greater St. Louis.”

The Governor’s agreement with this interpretation negates the need for a special session for the expenses of the National Guard and the Highway Patrol in providing enhanced security in Ferguson and the St. Louis region.

If the republicans all agree they can’t complain later, right?

Previously: Gov. Jay Nixon: special legislative session – Ferguson (November 29, 2014)

…if these bills ever see the light of day.

Previously: You were expecting anything different? (December 1, 2014)

Today is the first day for prefiling bills for the 2015 session of the General Assembly. Several bills obviously prompted by issues pertinent to Ferguson, Missouri have been filed:

HB 38 Requires a peace officer to attend a training course in diversity and sensitivity and a course that teaches tactics and techniques during situations of unrest and peaceful demonstrations

Sponsor: Pace, Sharon (074)

Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2015

LR Number: 0036L.01I

Last Action: 12/01/2014 – Prefiled (H)

Bill String: HB 38

[….]

Can’t you just see an amendment offered by the majority exempting National Football League player introductions?

HB 39 Requires video cameras to be worn by uniformed police officers while interacting with the public and in police vehicles primarily used for traffic stops

Sponsor: Pace, Sharon (074)

Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2015

LR Number: 0037L.01I

Last Action: 12/01/2014 – Prefiled (H)

Bill String: HB 39

[….]

HB 40 Requires peace officers to undergo a psychological evaluation every three years

Sponsor: Pace, Sharon (074)

Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2015

LR Number: 0039L.01I

Last Action: 12/01/2014 – Prefiled (H)

Bill String: HB 40

[….]

A cold day indeed.

Yesterday:

St. Louis Police Officers Association wants Rams players disciplined for ‘hands-up’ gesture

By PETE GRATHOFF

12/01/2014 12:19 AM Updated: 12/01/2014 12:40 AM

Five Rams players took the field for Sunday’s game against the Raiders in St. Louis with their hands raised.

It was to show their support for protesters in Ferguson, Mo., and around the country who are angered that former police officer Michael Brown was not indicted by a grand jury for the killing of Michael Brown….

[….]

….The players’ action angered the St. Louis Police Officers Association. In a news release, the Association’s business manager, Jeff Roorda, called for “the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology.”

[….]

This is now, that was then. Forty-six years ago:

The Black Power Salute That Rocked the 1968 Olympics

When Olympic sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood atop the medal podium at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City, bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists during the playing of the national anthem, millions of their fellow Americans were outraged. But countless millions more around the globe thrilled to the sight of two men standing before the world, unafraid, expressing disillusionment with a nation that so often fell, and still falls, so short of its promise….

[….]

Back to yesterday, via KSDK:

SLPOA condemns Rams display

[….]

“The SLPOA is calling for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology. [Jeff] Roorda said he planned to speak to the NFL and the Rams to voice his organization’s displeasure tomorrow. He also plans to reach out to other police organizations in St. Louis and around the country to enlist their input on what the appropriate response from law enforcement should be. Roorda warned, “I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights. Well I’ve got news for people who think that way, cops have first amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours. I’d remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser’s products. It’s cops and the good people of St. Louis and other NFL towns that do. Somebody needs to throw a flag on this play. If it’s not the NFL and the Rams, then it’ll be cops and their supporters.”

[….]

Think about that for a minute.

Some of the reaction, via Twitter:

Tony Messenger ‏@tonymess

I hope that a lawmaker, union official, or police officer will explain to Jeff Roorda in measured tones how truly horrible his statement is. 9:50 PM – 30 Nov 2014

Jason Rosenbaum ‏@jrosenbaum

. @MoDemParty gave Jeff Roorda around $267K this year for his #BattleForJeffCo run. He lost by ~10 percentage points to @WielandNow. 10:01 PM – 30 Nov 2014

Tony Wyche ‏@tonywyche

Before you type “thug,” ask yourself if you mean something else. Because even if YOU don’t recognize that you mean something else, we all do 11:11 PM – 30 Nov 2014

Sean Nicholson ‏@ssnich

We need more politically active athletes, not fewer. [….] 6:21 AM – 1 Dec 2014

“….I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights….”

Uh, that would be anyone who actually reads and understands the Constitution (Okay, the National Football League is a private entertainment entity, but you all get the point).

Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) posted a comment along with a photo of a Fox News panel discussing Ferguson, Missouri on Twitter:

Jason Kander ‏@JasonKander

Diverse set of perspectives on this panel I’m sure. #Ferguson [….] 10:01 AM – 30 Nov 2014

A few responses:

KCFAN21 ‏@Greeze21

@JasonKander @cdotharrison Yes because there is a problem with white people. You all are nuts. 10:04 AM – 30 Nov 2014

Chance ‏@TheSlimChance

@JasonKander way more divers than you get on @meetthepress or @ThisWeekABC or @FaceTheNation. 10:08 AM – 30 Nov 2014

President John McCain must not have been on this week.

We attempt sarcasm in service to irony (which tends to go right past the right):

Michael Bersin ‏@MBersin

@JasonKander Is it the suits? 10:11 AM – 30 Nov 2014