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Larry Miller Political Activism Collection

 Collection
Identifier: A3068

Scope and Contents

The collection is arranged chronologically and is comprised of literature and publications made available to protestors in Ferguson, Missouri, and to activists who observed police actions and who continued to work for social justice in 2014 and 2015. This includes information sheets, a poster, a newspaper, events flyers, pocket brochures, and one candidate flyer for the St. Louis County Executive.

There is a page entitled, “Points of discipline for people’s patrols to stop illegal and arbitrary police abuse.” It lists eleven points of behavior for patrol members including: do not carry weapons, promote respect for people, and do not engage in violence with police. Related to the police patrols is a pocket brochure published by the National Lawyers Guild and the Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment which provides a legal support hotline phone number and lists individuals’ rights when observing or interacting with police.

Local churches worked with the Don’t Shoot Coalition to set up sanctuary spaces for protestors following the public announcement of the grand jury’s decision about the fate of the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown. The decision was announced on 24 November 2014. There is a 3-page handout listing three churches as safe places, supplies needed for the spaces, a map, and how to communicate and receive text message alerts. The first page also includes a personal check list, the first point listed is “jail support number written on your body with permanent marker.” This list is much like a list from the Ferguson Action resources web page. It is unclear which group circulated this handout. Also related to the grand jury’s decision is a poster created by Danica Novgorodoff.

Items dated after the grand jury’s decision include a 22 March 2015 issue of Revolution, a newspaper published by the Communist Party, USA. The front page advertises that 14 April 2014 is declared “STOP Murder by Police” day and uses the phrase, “Every city, every town has its own Michael Brown.” There is also a flyer for April 14th from The Stop Mass Incarceration Network.

Remaining flyers include the National Bar Association's Black Lives Matter Community Service Day and a presentation by Lost Tribes Multi/Media Productions entitled “Dr. King’s Dream or Black Nightmare 2015.”

Dates

  • 2014-2015

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

Larry Miller is a local activist who joined the protests following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, Jr., in Ferguson, Missouri, on 9 August 2014. He became a member of the people’s patrols to stop police abuse and often spoke at Ferguson City Council meetings. Miller worked with the Ferguson Freedom Fighters to mark the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death in 2015.

Please also see signs and other objects donated by Mr. Miller that were used in the Ferguson protests in Museum Collections.

Extent

0.04 Cubic Feet ( (1 folder; 1 oversize folder))

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The items were donated by Larry Wilson in 2015 (accession number 2015-109) and in 2017 (acc. no. 2017-030).

Existence and Location of Copies

Selected items from this collection have been digitized by Missouri Historical Society staff. The images may be viewed online by clicking the links beside each item in the inventory.

Related Materials

See also Museum Collections for signs and other objects from the Ferguson protests donated by Larry Miller.

Processing Information

Processed with funding from The Stuart Foundation, Inc. by Kristina Perez, 2019.

Title
Inventory of Larry Miller Political Activism Collection
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Kristina Perez using ArchivesSpace.
Date
2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510