'I love Ferguson.' Neighboring city shows support, sympathy
Residents of Florissant, Mo. say they're sympathetic to the tragic death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, but worry about the anger directed at police in Ferguson, their neighbor to the south.
A sign is seen on a street before the verdict by the grand jury in the indictment of Darren Wilson, in Ferguson, Missouri, November 14. The grand jury decision on whether to indict the white Missouri police officer, Wilson, for fatally shooting a 18-year-old unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, is nearing, a lawyer for the family said on Thursday, calling for calm in a situation that has put police and residents on edge.
Jim Young/Reuters
Florissant, Mo.
In this quiet city just north of聽Ferguson, Missouri, the neat streets of small homes and shops show no signs of the racial tension that has gripped the adjacent聽St. Louis聽suburb since the fatal police shooting in August of an unarmed black teen.
In riot-scarred聽Ferguson, many businesses remain boarded up three months since the death of 18-year-old聽Michael Brown.聽Florissant聽shows no obvious mark of racial tensions, apart from a few "I Love聽Ferguson" signs put up to show support for its southern neighbor.
Residents of聽Florissant聽are well aware of聽Ferguson's troubles. While sympathetic to the tragic death of a teenager, they are also worried about the anger directed at police. They are also nervous that unrest could reach them if the grand jury hearing the Brown case decides not to bring charges against the shooter,Ferguson聽police聽officer聽Darren Wilson.
"They have reason to be angry, but they don't express it very well," said 90-year-old retiree聽Will Geno聽as he sat with some friends in聽Old Town聽Donuts, enjoying the sunshine streaming through plate glass windows.
About two-thirds of the residents of聽Florissant聽are white, a mirror image to聽Ferguson, which is about two-thirds black.聽Florissant聽is also wealthier, with median household income topping $51,000. That exceeds the state average of $47,000 and is well over聽Ferguson's $37,000, according to聽U.S. Census Bureau聽data.
The two cities have long been linked. Geno recalled attending high school in聽Ferguson聽and visiting a long-gone movie house with his friends, and residents of both races said they had gotten along well for years.
Despite that history, some are wary that violence sparked by the police shooting could spread if the grand jury decides not to charge Wilson.
"I'm hoping that we can have a peaceful settlement. I hope we don't go back to what it was like last time. I was in the military during the 1960s race riots and it's sad to be seeing all of that all over again," said聽Jim Guerin, a 65-year-old resident of聽Florissant聽who is black and drives a bus part time in his retirement.
Sitting with friends at a bowling alley, Guerin said he doubted any coming protests would be confined toFerguson.
"It's going to be all over聽St. Louis County," Guerin said.
Some in聽Florissant聽said they do not understand why protesters in聽Ferguson聽have repeatedly clashed with police.
"I don't like they way they're treating the police," said聽Julie Griffith, 66, who was tending the counter at a small shop on Friday morning for a friend. "If you're demonstrating and they tell you to stay on the sidewalk, why can't you stay on the sidewalk? Why is that so hard?"
For their part, activists in聽Ferguson聽contend that local police often sparked conflicts with protesters in August when they took a heavy-handed approach by aiming rifles and firing tear gas at crowds, measures that police said were necessary to protect themselves and the public.
"I do think the police need to have some sensitivity training, how to handle people," said Guerin.聽St. Louis County聽police said that since August, officers have been sent through fresh training on de-escalating conflict.
Activists have also pledged to respond in nonviolent ways to the grand jury's decision. They blame the incidents of burning and looting in August on a handful of violent actors.
As he worked at聽Florissant's聽Old Town聽Marketplace consignment shop,聽Gary Ponder, 59, said he sympathized with protesters' anger but also hoped to see a less confrontational tone if further demonstrations develop.
"I have problems with the government too, I think we are overtaxed and underrepresented. You want to speak out, I'm there. But throwing rocks, spitting on cops? That's over the line," Ponder said. "This isn't a black and white issue, it's a right and wrong issue." (Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by David Gregorio)