Yesterday, April 7, 2015, the residents of Ferguson, MO took a much needed step towards change by electing two black candidates to the Ferguson City Council. While many may see this as too little of a change, the true measure comes by way of the numbers and the power that the City Council actually has.
You see, Ella Jones and Municipal Judge Wesley Bell were elected to a City Council where, until yesterday, five of the six members of the Council were white. Now, with the election of Jones and Bell, the Council will be made up of three black members and three white members, according to NBC station KSDK.
Also, in a town where two-thirds of the 21,000 residents are black, Reuters reports that 29% of registered voters turned up at the polls, as compared to 12% in the 2014 municipal election. Keep in mind that these numbers are for an off-year election held in April. Not a bad margin for a town in desperate need of leadership change and equality.
As for the power that the City Council actually has, their own website states:
?As elected officials, they are responsible for setting policies for the city and passing ordinances that have the force of the law?.
This shift of power is sure to bring about some major changes in the future in regards to newly elected officials, and especially the police department. With a Justice Department investigation that found the civil rights of citizens being violated on a regular basis, this is sure to make many of Ferguson’s resident happy.
Lastly, let’s not forget the tragic event that set this change in motion. When last August, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson. This event sparked national outrage and protests all around the country. While I will not condone or support any of the violence and destruction caused by a small group of agitators, I will give support and encouragement to the many peaceful protesters that helped to bring about this change.
