Hundreds Gather At Love Park For National Moment Of Silence
By Diana Rocco and Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- People in more than 90 cities across the country observed a National Moment of Silence as they remembered those who died at the hands of police brutality.
As tensions rise between police and community members in Ferguson, Missouri, here at home a moment of silence and candles for 18-year-old Mike Brown, the unarmed teen killed by police Saturday crossing the street in the St. Louis suburb.
"Now's the time for healing, now's the time for peace and calm on the streets of Ferguson. Now is the time for an open and transparent process to see that justice is done," President Barack Obama said.
From the White House the President denounced the violence and the days of unrest.
"I'm here in solidarity with the people of Ferguson," Joe Smith said.
"This is a stand against not only racism, but against the misuse of power," Cynthia Mullum said.
In Philadelphia, hundreds gathered at Love Park to take part in that moment of silence.
After reading the names of men killed by the police, the crowd of stood in unison with their hands in the air, as they observed a moment of silence.
That moment was to honor Mike Brown, the unarmed, black, suburban St. Louis teenager who just a few days ago was gunned downed by a white police officer.
With signs that read, don't shoot, stop racist police brutality and black lives are valuable too, the crowd peacefully voiced their frustration with law enforcement.
"We're sick and tired of police brutality and the misuse of power," one person at Love Park said.
"It's an epidemic and I would be irresponsible to not try and do something to effect change," another person said.
They brought signs and wore red ribbons after watching four days of rallies and protests in Ferguson turn violent with looting and tear gas being used by police in riot gear. Thursday, the Governor replaced the police force there with the state's highway patrol in an effort to ease tensions, and the President called for peace.
"Let's remember that we're all part of one American family. We are united in common values and that includes belief in equality under the law, basic respect for public order and the right to peaceful public protest," the President said.
The organizers for tonight's event in Philadelphia say this will be the first of many to come.
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