People hurriedly cleaned and rebuilt a memorial to Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., on Friday morning after they said a car intentionally destroyed it.
Flowers, signs and other mementos, left in remembrance of the 18-year-old who was killed in a police shooting in August, were scattered throughout the streets, stirring supporters who saw pictures on social media to gather to restore the makeshift shrine.
Just got to #MikeBrown memorial and it’s been ran over. Someone who saw it on video said it was intentional. pic.twitter.com/UlR2TGSxCS
— J. Meless (@jay_myles2) December 26, 2014
I can’t believe some destroyed the Canfield memorial on Christmas. Hate is deep. (via @jay_myles2) pic.twitter.com/XumtQ23gMT
— deray mckesson (@deray) December 26, 2014
A few people are here and planning to restore the memorial right now. Hate won’t win tonight #MikeBrown #Ferguson — J. Meless (@jay_myles2) December 26, 2014
Officer Timothy Zoll, the Ferguson Police Department’s public relations officer, said that no crime had been reported in connection to the memorial’s destruction. He suggested that the department would look at any video of the incident, but he did not specify whether the department would investigate. “I don’t know that a crime has occurred,” Zoll said Friday. “But a pile of trash in the middle of the street? The Washington Post is making a call over this?” Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown on Aug. 9, sparking a national conversation about race relations and police enforcement in the United States. The memorial sits in the middle of a street near the Canfield Green apartment complex, where Brown was shot and died. The memorial was rebuilt by morning.
The rebuilt #MichaelBrown memorial on Canfield. @michaelcalhoun first reported car destroying it this am. pic.twitter.com/us85BXlFUy — Brett A. Blume (@brettblumekmox) December 26, 2014
Not surprised that so many people showed up to rebuild the memorial tonight but I’m still incredibly moved by the resilience & spirit.
— J. Meless (@jay_myles2) December 26, 2014