“This is not a ‘moment.’ This is a ‘movement’

Editor’s Note: The People’s Tribune’s Cathy Talbott interviewed Cheyenne Green, one of the founding members of “Lost Voices,” a grass roots organization that came together spontaneously during the Ferguson Missouri uprising.
People’s Tribune: How did Lost Voices get started?
Cheyenne: None of us knew each other before (Mike Brown’s murder). It is a group of people who recognized each other’s faces from marching. The first night we had the free assembly, we could stay twenty-four hours if we were peacefully protesting. We decided to stay outside. We stayed there on concrete, then we progressed to a cardboard box, then got a sheet for the box, then built it up to like a little home with tents.  We’ve grown from ten of us originally, ages 13 to 47.
People’s Tribune: We understand the police destroyed your encampment.
Cheyenne: They invaded us three times. After 47 days we stopped camping out. It was getting too dangerous. They were aggressive, trying to lock us up, taking our belongings. We had permission from the owners of each of the three sites we moved to. The last time two members got arrested; one for saying “give us more than 5 minutes to get our things” and another for recording the cops.
People’s Tribune: What kind of organizing are you doing?
Cheyenne: We are really involved in the community. We’re on the ground in the streets every day. We’re definitely strategizing and coming up with plans. This is not a “moment.” This is a “movement.” We are going to continue with the “Mike Brown” campaign and we started a platform for Kajieme Powell and Vonderrit Meyers to remember all these people from St. Louis killed after Mike Brown.
People’s Tribune: What is the mood after the failure to indict Wilson? Is there fear of the police?
Cheyenne: It’s calmer since most of the people from out of town have left. The night of the announcement Deandre Joshua was found shot in the head and burned in his car nearby. I believe that was KKK or a hit because he testified at the Grand Jury hearing (against Wilson). We’re definitely investigating that ourselves. Something is not right about that. There is absolutely no fear. We’re definitely standing our ground.  If you (police) are not going to be for the community, then the community is going to police you back.
People’s Tribune: Do you have a vision for a new society?
Cheyenne: We want to create a new system that’s actually for the people. We’re getting a community center together for GED and mentoring programs and counseling for those in Canfield who saw (Mike’s) body lying there for 4 ½ hours. The big goal is to start getting some schools with new books and things you need in everyday life.
People’s Tribune: What else would you like to tell our readers?
Cheyenne: Stay positive. Pray for Ferguson. Don’t believe the media (like Fox2 News). They have people thinking that we’re some crazy maniacs instead of the fact that we were peacefully protesting and the police started pouring tear gas everywhere. The media is false.
For more information contact www.thelostvoices.org