For Immediate Release
November 6, 2014
Contact: Madison Donzis, 210.488.6220, madison@fitzgibbonmedia.com
ColorofChange.org Repsonds to Confiscation of Moving Billboard and Arrest of Driver
St. Louis, MO – Last night, during an event in Ferguson where hundreds of people marched for an end to police brutality, police confiscated a rolling billboard targeting Governor Nixon and arrested the driver of the truck. Witnesses say police in an unmarked car targeted the driver and pulled him from the truck. The billboard aimed to amplify the Governor’s responsibility and emphasize that as we come closer to a decision around the indictment, Missouri communities are counting on him to take action in securing a special prosecutor in the case against officer Darren Wilson.
The billboard read, “Gov. Nixon: What will you do in this moment with the whole world watching?” ColorOfChange members donated to help support the billboard, which is coordinated by a private company that specializes in carrying rolling advertisements.
Nearly one million people have called on Missouri leadership to ensure the prosecution of Officer Darren Wilson to the fullest extent of the law.
Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorofChange.org, issued the following statement:
“Missouri law enforcement continues to try to violate our first amendment rights and silence our calls for justice for Mike Brown. But we’re strong, we’re organized, and we will hold Governor Nixon responsible for allowing the systematic violation of Black Missourians’ free speech and human rights. When communities are prevented from speaking out and challenging their country, we are no longer in a democracy; we are no longer in America.
“As Governor, Nixon has both the responsibility and obligation to restore integrity to the justice system and ensure County Attorney McCulloch steps down from this case. McCulloch has done everything in his power to avoid securing justice for Mike Brown’s family, and unless Governor Nixon takes action, Officer Wilson will not be held fully accountable. It’s painfully unjust and a direct result of Governor Nixon’s failure to lead. Governor Nixon must take action to secure the answers and accountability Mike Brown’s family so greatly deserves.
“It is in critical moments like these, when the whole world is watching, that leadership’s priorities become crystal clear. Governor Nixon has a choice to make: either secure a special prosecutor and risk the baseless shame of his political allies that represent police unions, or let Darren Wilson get away with murder and lose the trust of voters whose voices he was elected to represent.”
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With over 900,000 members, ColorOfChange.org is the nation’s largest online civil rights organization.