Camden clergy 'die-in' protests Michael Brown, Eric Garner grand jury verdicts

CAMDEN — For the second time in as many days, city streets were the scenes of protest following the grand jury decisions on the police-involved deaths of unarmed black men Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

On Friday morning, about 30 members of Camden and South Jersey churches took to the steps of the federal courthouse and laid there for 4-and-a-half minutes to represent the 4-and-a-half hours Brown's body was in the street following his fatal shooting in Ferguson, Missouri.

"This is not any kind of referendum on the Camden police department," the Rev. Heyward Wiggins III said while standing with fellow protestors inside St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Good policing should be left alone and congratulated, while bad policing should be addressed and changes made, said Wiggins, who felt the Camden police department is going in a good direction.

Wiggins, of Camden Churches Organized for People, said Friday morning's event stands in solidarity with many others following the death of Brown and Garner in Staten Island, New York.

The protest called on authorities to direct resources, including additional training, investigations and new standards, toward resolving current and preventing future incidents like the ones that have sparked protests at home and across the nation.

As people of faith, the reverend said it's their duty to do more than just talk about the issue.

Wiggins did more than just talk — he sang.

Laying on the sidewalk with a bullhorn in his hand, Wiggins sang "Deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome someday."

When he and fellow protestors rose from their "die in," chalk outlines of their bodies remained.

Bill Abrams, of Maple Shade, and Chuck O'Neil, of Audobon, expressed dismay with the current state of community affairs when it comes to law enforcement.

"We've got a bad system that is resulting in people being killed and the people killing them not being held accountable," said O'Neil, who added that some police have a "very macho" attitude and use words like "thug" as a codeword to describe minorities.

"In their mind, they're afraid," Abrams said of police while on duty. "It will be hard to change, but they have to change."

Carrying signs with messages like "Cops are meant to save lives, not take them away," the group marched to the federal post office and courthouse on Market Street chanting "No justice, no peace" and "I can't breathe."

The latter is in reference to words said by Garner when he was placed in what appears to be a choke-hold by officers after being confronted for allegedly selling loose cigarettes.

"A lot of these young boys out there are not making it in the world today," said life-long Camden resident J.W. Wilson, who was standing on the steps of the federal building as the demonstration unfolded.

Wilson, who said he had run-ins with police during his younger years, said those encounters never escalated to the type of events involving slain teen Trayvon Martin, Brown and Garner.

"The guy said 'I can't breathe.' Give him some slack," said Wilson.

Angelo Rossario, also a Camden native and father of three, came upon the "touching" protest, which he watched from afar.

While two of his children are now adults, his youngest, 5-year-old Abigail, will grow up in a world where hoodies are no longer just a clothing item, Rossario commented.

"Just like the sign said, 'Cops are here to protect you,'" he said. "As times change, people change. We're different mentally."


Greg Adomaitis may be reached at Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.