The Forum

August 9, 2024 marked ten years since Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, killed Michael Brown Jr., an unarmed black 18-year-old. Brown’s death sparked nationwide protests and civil unrest, launching the Black Lives Matter movement into the national political force that we know it as today. To commemorate the day and memorialize Brown’s life and death on the tenth anniversary of his killing, his father, Michael Brown Sr., organized a miles-long march across North County from Michael Brown Jr.’s former high school to the location that he was shot and killed, dubbed “ground zero.”

At ground zero, marchers were told to take blue roses and lay them in the street in a line leading up to a memorial to Michael Brown. The memorial–a decorated rectangular area adorned with flowers and stuffed animals in the middle of Canfield Drive–was placed at the spot where Michael Brown’s body collapsed and laid after being shot. It was quickly surrounded by marchers and mourners, including Michael Brown Sr. himself.

At the memorial, numerous speeches were given by a variety of high-profile activists, including Cori Bush, who had lost her primary election days earlier, Cornel West, a prolific left-wing philosopher and 2024 independent presidential candidate, and Fred Hampton Jr., the son of the former leader of the Black Panther Party. After a number of speeches, a long moment of silence was held to honor Brown; it was one of several that were done that day.

Notable in their presence at the march and subsequent rally were other fathers with sons who were tragically killed by police. These men are referred to as “chosen fathers” by Michael Brown Sr. and his organization, Chosen for Change. The organization was founded in the after- math of Brown’s killing and is dedicated to providing “community support, outreach programs, activities, and events that are responsive, reflective, and holistic for families affected by, or at risk of becoming and/or experiencing grief resulting from the loss of a child due to a tragic unforeseen circumstance,” according to their website. After enduring unthinkable trauma ten years ago–after being chosen for change–Michael Brown Sr. is trying to rebuild a community and build a legacy for his late son.