If nothing else happens from the murder of Mike Brown by police officer Darren Wilson, at least one thing’s for sure. Ferguson residents are finally realizing where their true power lies, in their vote. And their voter registration drive since the shooting is admirable.
Of the 4,839 people in St. Louis County who have registered to vote since the shooting, 3,287 are residents of Ferguson — a city with a population of 21,203, according to the last census.
The city’s population is predominantly African-American, yet most of its elected representatives and a vast majority of its police force are white.
“It’s a great move when people come out and register in mass like that,” St. Louis 3rd Ward Committeeman Anthony Bell said, according to USA Today. “They are sending a signal that we want a change. It doesn’t give justice to the Michael Brown family but it will in the future give justice to how the administration is run in a local municipality like Ferguson.”
Anthony Gray, an attorney who represents Brown’s family, said citizens of Ferguson could enact real change come the November elections.
“It could completely change the political landscape, the power structure, (and) the decision making,” he told USA Today. “The service to the African American community would almost quadruple because they would be viewed as a credible and legitimate voting block.”
