Intermission at the Powell Symphony Hall was interrupted last Saturday by a flash mob of protestors who launched into a rendition of Florence Reece’s “Which Side Are You On?” in memory of slain teenager Michael Brown. The lyrics, “Justice for Mike Brown / is justice for us all,” were added to the political ballad, as other attendees watched in shock.
As they sang, protestors unfurled banners which read, “Racism Lives Here,” and “Requiem for Michael Brown 1996-2014.” The protestors had all paid to be in the audience during that night’s performance by the St. Louis Symphony.
After the song paper hearts were thrown into the crowd from the balcony, with the inscription, “Requiem for Michael Brown, May 20, 1996 – August 9 2014.” The protestors then departed the hall, chanting, “Black lives matter.” The St. Louis Symphony continued that evening’s performance on schedule, following the protest.
Michael Brown was an 18-year-old African American boy, gunned down last August by a police officer in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri.
He was unarmed at the time. Since his death protests have raged in Ferguson and across the nation, calling for the arrest of Darren Wilson, the offending officer. Saturday marked the two month anniversary of the incident.