When trust breaks down We must turn unrest into a movement to create a more just St. Louis
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 4 – 10, 2014
Vol. 85 No. 22 COMPLIMENTARY
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n “We’ve shown that we are a voice – and we have allowed ourselves to become one voice that can be heard across the world.”
Centene to expand in Ferguson
– Angel Davey Taylor
Michael Neidorff: ‘It is time for action, not talk’ By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden, parents of Michael Brown, and organizers Akbar Muhammad and Zaki Baruti were surrounded by a diverse sea of protestors in Canfield Green Apartments during the National March on Ferguson on Saturday.
Generations unite for justice National March on Ferguson sparks movement three weeks after police shooting By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “Now ain’t the time for talking to media,” a young man named D said when asked to be interviewed during the National March on Ferguson on Saturday. “We need to use our voices for justice.” D had tattoos all over his body – including his face. He had T-shirt fashioned into a bandana across his head with the acronym “GIBAM.” The letters are short for “Get It By Any
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Means.” “It” refers to justice for the unarmed teen Michael Brown, who was shot at least six times and killed by a Ferguson police officer See MARCH, A7
Photo by Wiley Price
Trey Griffin, 3, hitched a ride with his grandfather, Don Catlin, as they joined the National March on Ferguson on Saturday.
Centene Corp. announced Tuesday that it will open a new claims processing facility in Ferguson, Missouri, creating 200 new jobs by the end of the year. Leaders of the Clayton-based managed care company – which grosses $10.5 billion annually – said the unrest following Michael Brown’s death prompted Centene to select Ferguson for the expansion. In an interview with The St. Louis American, Centene’s chairman and CEO Michael Neidorff said many of company’s n “We’ve employees are from been talking Ferguson. The and decided, idea for the new facility came out of ‘Why don’t discussions among his we show the management team. world that “We’ve been we have talking and decided, confidence in ‘Why don’t we show the citizens of the world that we have confidence in the Ferguson.’” citizens of Ferguson,’” he said. – Centene The fast action CEO Michael was strongly backed Neidorff by Centene’s ninemember board, which includes Neidorff, David Steward of World Wide Technology, Inc. and former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt. “It was a five-minute decision,” Neidorff said. “The board was enthusiastic.” He said Centene also had Ferguson’s small businesses in mind when pushing forward the plan. “If Centene is willing to build a structure and facility, then there’s reason for those small businesses to hang in there,” he said. U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill said the facility would be a “stabilizing lifeline” for the many small businesses affected by the See CENTENE, A6
Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, has been a front line leader in the Ferguson protest movement.
Speaking of Faith
Praying with her feet Rev. Traci Blackmon ministers at the front lines in Ferguson By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Before the praise and worship service began Sunday, August 24 at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, a young woman
decorated its sacred spaces with colorful origami cranes connected by strings. She had a plastic container full of them. The container held 1,000 cranes that were hand-delivered by Kate Rogers, a third-year ministerial student from South Boston United Church of Christ, located near ground zero of last year’s Boston Marathon terrorist bomb attack. Now, a different type of ground zero is here in Ferguson. The cranes are a symbol of peace for the See BLACKMON, A6 Photo by Lawrence Bryant