NAACP Marching from Ferguson to Governor's Mansion

Plus: mayor announces efforts to broaden police demographics
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 30, 2014 1:56 PM CST
NAACP Marching from Ferguson to Governor's Mansion
A large group walks Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo., early in a 120-mile march to the governor's mansion in Jefferson City.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

The Journey for Justice has begun: The NAACP has launched a march from Ferguson, Mo., to the state capital of Jefferson City, KSDK reports. "This is a peaceful march and we're seeking systemic, fundamental reform of policing in this country," says the organization's president and CEO, Cornell William Brooks. First on the agenda is the passage of federal and state laws barring racial profiling, he says. The demonstrators say the effort isn't focused on issues specific to one race. Instead, "we want to stick together as one. Not as African Americans and Caucasians, but as one family," says one marcher.

Evenings will see rallies and teach-ins that are open to everyone, KSDK notes. Some 250 marchers started walking today, leaving from the site of a Michael Brown memorial. The 120-mile journey is due to end at the governor's mansion, the AP reports. Meanwhile, in Ferguson, mayor James Knowles has announced an effort to build a police force that's "more reflective of the demographics of Ferguson," NPR reports. Part of that effort is creating a scholarship program to bring in more African American officers. The city is also setting up a civilian review board to weigh in on police activities, the mayor says. (More Ferguson, Missouri stories.)

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