National Network On Cuba: Statement On Ferguson

One hundred days have gone by since young college-bound Michael Brown was shot down in the street. For 100 days the family of Michael Brown and the people of Ferguson have demonstrated there will be no peace without justice.

Michael Brown represents all youth especially youth of color, African descent, Latino and Latina, Indigenous … disproportionately dying at the hands of police and vigilantes — tazed, choked, shot. At the Fruitvale Bart Station, in the Ohio Walmart, at the border in San Diego, often hails of bullets in Los Angeles parks, in Cleveland cars and on the streets from coast to coast. There truly is an emergency — but it won’t be solved by repression, armored personnel carriers, teargas or bullets. It is an emergency of the school to prison pipeline, stop and frisk, mass incarceration, homelessness, unemployment, racism, schools for profit, education debt … it is an emergency that refuses to develop society’s biggest source of wealth — the people, the youth.

As ‘Cuba Debate’ Against World Terrorism; http://www.cubadebate.cu/opinion/2014/08/17/renace-con-fuerza-el-ku-kux-klan/#.VGwE1vnF_SF had noted in it August 17 post: “All this reminds us of the assassination of Martin Luther King, fighter for civil rights after which the state put in placed over 20 000 soldiers in large southern cities, and increased police presence. These days are said to be giving the police the same weapons that Washington used in wars of aggression against other peoples.” Palestinians took note that the same tear gas used against them also choked the “hands up – don’t shoot” protesters in Ferguson, and sent solidarity messages to the people of Ferguson.

Another world is possible and necessary, a world where #BlackLivesMatter

More than 70 cities are already on standby to stand up for Michael Brown, his family and community.

The co-chairs of the NNOC believe that is the place for friends of Cuba to be when the Grand Jury announcement is made.