Protests have erupted in many cities in the USA following the Grand Jury decision not to charge white policeman Darren Wilson who shot dead unarmed black youth Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on 9 August. The following statement on this outrageous verdict was released by Socialist Alternative in the USA, co-thinkers of the Socialist Party.
“The Grand Jury acquittal of Darren Wilson was rigged. The entire criminal justice system is a racist set-up to criminalise black youth. Over a million are in prisons for non-violent offenses while the real criminals on Wall Street never see the inside of a prison cell.
Four times a week, a black man is killed by the cops or racist murderers like George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin’s killer. Enough is enough! These demonstrations need to spark a new Black Freedom Coalition for justice, jobs, education and an end to racist policing.
We need to continue the movement against racist police violence to demand not only an indictment of Darren Wilson but also an open investigation into the Ferguson police department by community groups and trade unions.
The criminal ‘injustice’ system is connected to economic racism inherent in US capitalism. Black workers are often the last hired and first fired, while schools and housing are underfunded in neighbourhoods of colour.
The youth leading the movement in Ferguson have rejected the millionaire politicians of the Democratic Party like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. They have built on their own strength, courage and determination to continue their struggle, despite being vilified and told to end their protests.
We need national days of action with protests in every city to build a movement out of the current anger. These actions should demand community control of the police through democratically-elected civilian review boards with the power of hiring and firing. We should demand a $15 an hour minimum wage as well as guaranteed quality jobs, health care, education, and housing.
The unions, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People and community organisations could mobilise millions of motivated people for protests like this throughout the country. This could be the beginnings of a new, youthful coalition to challenge racism and poverty.
These coalitions could be run democratically, refuse to take money from the super-rich, and campaign in schools, workplaces and communities to build protests against police violence and economic injustice.
President Obama and the Democrats aren’t delivering real change for working people, young people or the black community. We need to get organised with clear demands to win.”
For updates and analysis see www.socialistalternative.org
See also www.socialistparty.org.uk for background articles.