FERGUSON OCTOBER DEMONSTRATIONS GET LOUDER AFTER GOVERNOR JAY NIXON REFUSES TO APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR FOR OFFICER DARREN WILSON

FERGUSON, MO, October 21, 2014---  Tomorrow, Hands Up United will host a Twitter Storm to keep the pressure on Governor Nixon to appoint a special prosecutor in the Darren Wilson case.  Leaders from all across the world have agreed to participate to show their disapproval with the Governor after he announced today he will instead appoint a “Ferguson Commission”.  

Leaders are adamant that anything less than appointing a special prosecutor in the Darren Wilson case is unacceptable and unjust.

"Governor Nixon had a huge opportunity to lead and he dropped the ball," said Tef Poe a youth leader from Ferguson whose recent statement were also quoted by Nixon at a press conference.  Poe stated, "Although his speech today was filled with conciliatory rhetoric, his actions show that Governor Nixon is less interested in repairing the broken justice system than he is in maintaining the status quo.”

Ferguson specifically employs an “at-large” voting system, in which there are no districts at all, and all candidates face the whole electorate. Numerous jurisdictions around the country have used such systems to reduce minority representation. Missouri’s city council and school board elections are held in April, rather than in November when they would coincide with state or federal contests, but Ferguson protesters will not be deterred nor silenced.

"When it’s time to vote, we're going to remember all of the Democrats who refused to stand with us," said Tory Russell, a leader with Hands Up United. "We've been abandoned by liberals and Progressives, and we won't forget that when elections roll around, but until then they will hear from us."

To participate in tomorrow’s Twitter storm targeting Governor Jay Nixon, follow @handsupunited_ on Twitter and join the conversation with the hashtag #LeadJayNixon.