The journal entries you are reading were recorded on an eight day journey toward Ferguson, Mo to commemorate the one year anniversary of Michael Brown's shooting death. We stopped at churches on the way to Ferguson and collected money for legal fees incurred by activists during months of protests.
We did not get into a hotel until 3:30am then after sleeping for eight hours it was time to start driving toward Baltimore. Driving on the road for hours on end can be mentally exhausting not to mention being in vehicles with various personalities. We drove up to the Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore. Members of the All Roads Lead To Ferguson Tour unloaded musical equipment, then planned how to perform before the mostly white audience. Pastor Dr. Herber M. Brown III introduced Bishop Selders et al. People were still coming into the church as we prepared to sing or recite poetry.
Bishop Selders overview of why our group was journeying to Ferguson captured the attention of the audience. The performance began with song. "I Can't Breathe" (authored by Peace Poets) dedicated to Eric Garner being choked to death in New York, was the lead song of the program. Selders led the group in a spirited rendition of "God Has Work For Us To Do" in preparation for poetry readings by Peace Poets / Trinity College students. After the program , Pastor Brown asked for financial donations for legal fees of Ferguson activists. People in the audience responded with enthusiasm. Before the event ended around 10:00pm an audience member -black female young adult- asked to recite some poetry. After her presentation the audience clapped.
Once again we loaded musical equipment into the van. Then all parties went to reserved sleeping accommodations for the night. There is one constant in our universe- driving on the road in the morning toward Pittsburg.
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