Photo Contributed by Matt Faries
(From left to right on the crosswalk) Jared Carter, David Garcia, Jane Stitt and Nik Robbins kneel down to block northbound traffic on College Avenue. The four were arrested for civil disobedience during a protest against the grand jury’s decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
Four Fayetteville citizens were arrested for civil disobedience Tuesday afternoon for temporarily blocking northbound traffic on College Avenue during a demonstration in solidarity with similar protests throughout the United States for the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
More than 30 protesters stood outside of the Washington County Courthouse, holding signs that read various phrases such as “Black Lives Matter.” As Jared Carter, David Garcia, Jane Stitt and Nik Robbins — all members of the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Equality — knelt on the crosswalk, a police officer gave them an official warning to move or be arrested. The four silently remained in place. As four police officers handcuffed the four individuals, protesters chanted things such as “Hands up on my head, please don’t shoot me dead,” and “No justice no peace, no racist police.”
The protest remained peaceful, and no injuries were reported. Fayetteville police coordinated the event with Hands Up NWA and the OMNI Center, and were informed by the group beforehand that four people were willing to be arrested for civil disobedience.
“It was incredibly impressive,” said Gladys Tiffany, director of the OMNI Center. “There was an eight to ten minute period where we had traffic blocked for a long way up and down the road. When the police officers told them they were under arrest, everybody stood up. They took care of it very beautifully, and it was very dignified.”
Tiffany said she was glad the event was able to go so smoothly.
Photo Contributed by Matt Faries
Fayetteville police officers arrest (from left to right) Jane Stitt, Nik Robbins, David Garcia and Jared Carter for civil disobedience during the Ferguson, Mo. protest.
“Fayetteville is a place where we can do this,” she said. “In many parts of the world it’s much more dangerous to do what we are doing right now. I think Missouri did not know how foolish they were being, and they made a bad choice at every opportunity to make a good choice. It’s just really humiliating for my country to see this. The crackdown method is not ever going to make this better. The thing I want people to realize is the anti-discrimination ordinance is part of our salvation.”
Both OMNI and Hands Up NWA had been in communication with the Fayetteville police department prior to the event for some time, and there had been “very open dialogue” between them, said Sgt. Craig Stout.
“They told us exactly what they wanted to do, and it’s all been very well choreographed to express their first amendment rights, which we fully support,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the people of Ferguson who are dealing with these incidents. We’re just fortunate here in Fayetteville. We have a very good relationship with our public. We’re very glad we don’t have those types of issues here.”
Drivers passing by would occasionally honk their horns and raise their fists up in support of the protestors. One driver drove by and said “White power” at the crowd.
As a part of the protest, Garcia will refuse bail and remain in custody. The other three plan to make bail.
Across Dickson street, a counter protest was held to support Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who was under investigation for the shooting death of Michael Brown. The grand jury of the case decided Monday there was not enough probable cause with the evidence to indict Wilson. The decision sparked riots and protests all throughout the United States Monday night.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
Don Preece stands on the other side of Dickson Street in support of Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson.
Don Preece, a retired veteran, stood on the other corner of Dickson and College with a sign that read, “Darren Wilson is a Hero.”
“He was a hero, he was under attack and he shot the guy,” Preece said. “I would have done the same had I been a policeman. It’s one of those things that if the policeman who shot him had been black, nothing would have been said. Why shouldn’t somebody else be out here that looks at the whole picture?”
Gary Swearingen, a retired Springdale police officer and private investigator, joined Preece to support Wilson.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with race,” he said. “I think Officer Wilson did what he was trained to do, he felt his life was threatened, the man had committed felony of an armed robbery earlier, and he was attacked by a man that was larger than him. He didn’t want to shoot that kid. I think he did what he had to do. They’re trying to make this a black/white issue, and it’s not.”
Additional reporting for this story was contributed by Matt Faries.
