Nationwide remembrances of Ferguson, one year later
A year ago, Ferguson, Missouri, was a mostly quiet working-class suburban town. The uneasy relationship between its growing black population and its mostly white police force barely registered in local headlines.
Everything changed on Aug. 9, 2014, when a white police officer named Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old. The street confrontation on that sultry day launched the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
A year later, communities around the country remember Michael Brown and call for reform. Read more about how Ferguson has changed.
- Demonstrators march to mark the first anniversary of the death of Michael Brown on August 7, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. Brown’s death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- A marker in the shape of a dove is embedded in the sidewalk near the spot where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Mo. A year ago, Ferguson was thrust into the national spotlight after the death of Brown giving way to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Leah Clark prepares to join a march to mark the first anniversary of the death of Michael Brown on August 8, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators march from the location where Michael Brown was shot and killed to Normandy High School where he was a student to mark the first anniversary of his death on August 8, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators, marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown, march along West Florrisant Street in a driving rain on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. There are reports that two people were shot when gun fire broke out during protests later in the evening. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators, marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown, stage a die in along West Florrisant Street in a driving rain on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. There are reports that two people were shot when gun fire broke out during protests later in the evening. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators, marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown, face off with police during a protest along West Florrisant Street on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. There are reports that two people were shot when gun fire broke out during protests later in the evening. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators, marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown, face off with police during a protest along West Florrisant Street on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. There are reports that two people were shot when gun fire broke out during protests later in the evening. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Protestors demonstrate outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 7, 2014. As the embattled community celebrates the one year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. by a Ferguson police officer, there are a wide range of social events and civil disobedience actions throughout the St. Louis, Missouri area. (AFP Photo/Michael Thomasmichael b. thomas)
- Protestors demonstrate outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 7, 2014. As the embattled community celebrates the one year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. by a Ferguson police officer, there are a wide range of social events and civil disobedience actions throughout the St. Louis, Missouri area. (AFP Photo/Michael Thomasmichael b. thomas)
- Protestors demonstrate outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 7, 2014. As the embattled community celebrates the one year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. by a Ferguson police officer, there are a wide range of social events and civil disobedience actions throughout the St. Louis, Missouri area. (AFP Photo/Michael Thomasmichael b. thomas)
- Protesters march in the rain, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Sunday marks one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- People protest on West Florissant Ave., Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo., on the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown being shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
- Police take cover behind a vehicle during a protest in Ferguson, Mo., Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. The one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson began with a march in his honor and ended with a protest that was interrupted by gunfire. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Protesters march down Canfield Drive near where Michael Brown was killed Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Sunday will mark one year since Brown was fatally by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Demonstrators participate in a protest march on August 9, 2015 on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, marking the one year anniversary of an unarmed black teen, Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a white police officer, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (AFP Photo/Michael Thomasmichael b. thomas)
- A memorial in memory of Michael Brown is seen in a sidewalk near where Brown was shot and killed as a parade in honor of Brown passes by Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo. Sunday will mark one year since Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Young demonstrators march from the location where Michael Brown was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri to Normandy High School where he was a student to mark the first anniversary of his death on August 8, 2015 in Jennings, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- A vehicle leaves the Canfield Green Apartments where Michael Brown was killed following a memorial service marking the anniversary of his death on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators, marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown, protest along West Florrisant Street on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. There are reports that two people were shot when gun fire broke out during protests later in the evening. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators, marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown, protest along West Florrisant Street on August 9, 2015 in Ferguson, Missouri. There are reports that two people were shot when gun fire broke out during protests later in the evening. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. His death sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and drew nationwide focus on police treatment of black offenders. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators march during a Michael Brown memorial protest in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 2015. Demonstrators showed support Sunday on the one year anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
- A man (C) is arrested during a Michael Brown memorial protest in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 2015. Demonstrators showed support Sunday on the one year anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators take part on a die-in during a Michael Brown memorial protest in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 2015. Demonstrators showed support Sunday on the one year anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators take part on a die-in during a Michael Brown memorial protest in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 2015. Demonstrators showed support Sunday on the one year anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators take part in a Michael Brown memorial protest in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 2015. Demonstrators showed support Sunday on the one year anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators march during a Michael Brown memorial protest in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 2015. Demonstrators showed support Sunday on the one year anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, throwing America’s troubled race relations into harsh relief. (Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images)
- Isaiah Simpson, center, links arms with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter rally, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Memphis, Tenn. The rally was held near where a Memphis Police officer shot and killed Darrius Stewart during a traffic stop on Friday, July 17, 2015. Members of the New Directions Church and Mid-South Peace and Justice Center joined the rally to mark the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP)
- Protester Mo Brown yells into a megaphone outside the Ferguson Police Department, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Sunday will mark one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Michael Brown Sr. along with family and friends stop to pray at a memorial to Brown’s son before taking part in a parade in his son’s honor Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo. Sunday will mark one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Michael Brown Sr., center, takes part in a march in remembrance of his son, Michael Brown, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Sunday marks one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Doves are released at the moment of the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown during a remembrance for the 18-year-old Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Sunday marks one year since Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, left, gets a hug from a person participating in a parade in honor of Michael Brown Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Jennings, Mo. Sunday will mark one year since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
- The Baltimore People’s Power Assembly holds a march on the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown. Brown, 18, was shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. The march began at Pennsylvania and North Avenues and is moving through the neighborhood to the place where Freddie Gray was arrested before continuing to N. Charles Street. Gray died in the custody of Baltimore City police. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Left to right, Andre Powell, an organizer with Baltimore People’s Power Assembly, and Rev. C. D. Witherspoon, president of the Baltimore SCLC, lead a march on North Avenue. The Baltimore People’s Power Assembly holds a march on the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown. Brown, 18, was shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. The march began at Pennsylvania and North Avenues and is moving through the neighborhood to the place where Freddie Gray was arrested before continuing to N. Charles Street. Gray died in the custody of Baltimore City police. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)