http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2552497/Groups to deliver Ferguson petition to White House
BY SUSAN CRABTREE | AUGUST 27, 2014 | 11:43 AM
More than a dozen civil rights groups, faith leaders and activists plan to meet outside the White House Thursday to deliver a petition demanding that the Justice Department hold accountable all police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
The groups, which include ColorofChange.org, Organization for Black Struggle, CREDO, MomsRising, MoveOn.org, among others, say they have gathered 900,000 signatures for a petition calling on President Obama and U.S. Attorney Eric Holder to fully investigate, prosecute and eventually fire all members of the police force that played a role in Brown’s killing.
The groups created the petition to ensure “justice for Michael” and “do everything in their power to reform policing policies and practices nationwide," according to a release about the event.
Others expected to participate include: Jamilah Nasheed, a Missouri state senator; black student leaders from Howard University; and the D.C. Youth Slam Team, a group that uses poetry and performance art to empower teens.
Earlier this month, a police officer shot Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black teen. His killing sparked weeks of protests and riots in Ferguson, as well as a national dialogue on the status of race relations in the country and whether the federal government has over-militarized local police.
Last week Holder traveled to Ferguson and promised a "fair and thorough" investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brown's death. The Justice Department has deployed approximately 40 FBI agents and several prosecutors from its civil rights division to Ferguson this month.
