Michael Brown, 18, is shot and killed by former Officer Darren Wilson on Canfield Drive in Ferguson, MO. As Brown’s body lay on the ground for four hours, witnesses took to Twitter to provide a special narrative that sparked protests across the city.
2. August 11, 2014
With no arrests reported, protesters take to the streets to call out the Ferguson Police Department for their lack of empathy and progress in the police shooting.
3. August 11, 2014
People in St. Louis adopt the phrase, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” after Brown’s reported last gesture was surrendering to the police with his hands in the air. The gesture will later serve as one of the chants in future protests all over the world.
The parents of Michael Brown speak at the Jennings Mason Temple Church of God In Christ in a special press conference about the shooting.
5. August 11, 2014
Protests begin to escalate as police use excessive force, tear gas, and other tactics against protesters.
6. August 11, 2014
The first memorial is created in the area the teen was shot and killed by Darren Wilson.
7. August 12, 2014
Lesley McSpadden and Rev. Al Sharpton head to the second press conference about the death of her son.
8. August 13, 2014
The Ferguson Police department give their own press conference concerning Brown and their actions after the shooting. Chief Thomas Jackson is seen addressing the crowd.
9. August 14, 2014
President Obama calls for “peace and calm” during his brief statements on the ongoing Ferguson riots.
10. August 2014
Protests begin to spread across the nation in cites like Boston and New York. Citizens in the Big Apple also spoke about the death of Eric Garner. The father of six was killed after being placed in a chokehold by a police officer for selling loose cigarettes on the street in Staten Island.
11. August 14, 2014
Missouri Highway patrol Cpt. Ron Johnson becomes a beacon of peace between protesters and police. Johnson spoke out several times about the police and the nature of the protests in Ferguson.
12. August 18, 2014
St. Louis native and rapper Nelly heads out with protesters to show support to Michael Brown. Other artists in the hip-hop community who spoke out against police brutality included J. Cole, Talib Kweli, Killer Mike, and David Banner.
13. August 20, 2014
The National Guard is called into Ferguson after riots erupt in the town. In a matter of days, Governor Jay Nixon creates and lifts a ban for pedestrians to step outside. On August 22, the National Guard has left Ferguson.
14. August 2014
Protests continue to sweep the nation as more cases about police killings make national headlines. In Washington, a sea of demonstrators headed to Capitol Hill. Just a few months later, Senate chaplain Barry Black led a group of congressional staffers to the same steps to honor Brown.
15. August 24, 2014
The Brown family finds more allies in Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton. The parents of Trayvon Martin stood with Brown’s family and spoke about the heartbreak of losing their sons in the same manner.
16. August 25, 2014
Michael Brown is laid to rest after a funeral service seen by many at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. The memorial streamed on YouTube as the family said their final goodbyes to the “gentle soul.”
17. September 20, 2014
Brown’s parents join Common, Vince Staples, and Jay Electronica on stage at the annual BET Hip-Hop Awards. The artists performed the remix to Common’s “Kingdom” before McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. joined the stage.
18. October 2014
Peaceful demonstrators continued to rally the streets while waiting for the grand jury’s decision to indite Darren Wilson. Protesters nationwide join in the St. Louis suburb for Ferguson October, a weekend-long demonstration of planned protests and events to dismantle state violence.
19. November 24, 2014
After the grand jury released their decision not to prosecute Wilson Monday evening, people continued to cry out for Brown in St. Louis.
20. December 2014
Following the decision not to charge officer Darren Wilson, a Staten Island grand jury elected not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo. Pantaleo placed Eric Garner in the illegal chokehold that killed the father of six.
21. December 2014
Protesters march in Washington D.C. for both Garner and Brown.
22. December 2014
Demonstrations go global. Here, protesters in Paris hold signs and posters in support of Brown and Garner.
23. December 2014
Lesley McSpadden, Brown’s mother, holds her hands in the “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture that became a symbol of resistance after his death.
24. December 2014
London answers the call to protest.
25. December 2014
Harvard students stage a die-in to protest the non-indictments of both Wilson and Pantaleo.
26. December 24, 2014
On Christmas Eve, another young black man was killed in Missouri. This time, 18-year-old Antonio Martin was gunned down by a cop after allegedly brandishing a weapon. Protesters who arrived on the scene staged an immediate demonstration.
27. Feb 9, 2015
This day marks the sixth month anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. Organizations like the Dream Defenders, Millennial Activists United, Hands Up United, BYP 100, Black Lives Matter, The NY Justice League, Million Hoodies, and many more continue to fight in Brown’s name to obtain justice for all men, women, and children gunned down in impunity by police officers.
