‘The Work That Remains’: Ben Crump Commemorates Michael Brown’s Life 10 Years Later With A Call To Action

Brown family attorney, Benjamin L. Crump, speaks to the media along with Lesley McSpadden (L) and Michael Brown Sr. (R) during a press conference outside the St. Louis County Court Building on April 23, 2015. in Clayton, Missouri. Family members announced a civil lawsuit over the death of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri. | Source: Michael B. Thomas / Getty

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump commemorated the life and death of Michael Brown Jr. on Friday — 10 years since the tragic police shooting death of the 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri — with a call to action in the name of social justice and reforming law enforcement.

Crump was the attorney representing Brown’s family — Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden — and their fight for justice after now-former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson gunned down their loved one with six fatal shots on Aug. 9, 2014. The shooting led to what’s been called the Ferguson Uprising, a series of protests that began the day after Brown Jr.’s death and also contributed to the rise of the national, powerful and highly influential Black Lives Matter movement.

MORE: The Night Ferguson Erupted

Crump, a longtime advocate for consequences for police misconduct who has been retained to work on some of the biggest social justice cases in modern history — including Trayvon Martin’s brutal shooting death by a vigilante in Florida in 2013 and George Floyd’s police murder in Minneapolis in 2020 — on Friday marked the somber anniversary in part by recalling the effect that Brown Jr.’s death had not on just Black America, but also the U.S. at large.

“Ten years after the tragic death of Michael Brown, we are reminded of the profound impact his loss has had on the fight for justice and the movement for Black lives,” Crump said in a statement that was shared with NewsOne. “Michael’s death was a catalyst for a racial reckoning in our society, particularly relating to law enforcement and their treatment of people of color. His memory compels us to keep fighting against the injustices that have plagued our communities for far too long.”

Still, Crump added, while much progress has been made, there is still quite a ways to go to ensure that Brown Jr. didn’t die in vain.

“But while we reflect on the progress made, we must also acknowledge the work that remains,” Crump continued. “Michael’s death, like the deaths of so many others, is a painful reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reforms that ensure no other family has to endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one to police violence.”

Crump concluded his statement: “Today, we honor Michael Brown’s legacy by renewing our commitment to justice, equality, and the relentless pursuit of change. His life mattered, and his memory continues to fuel our resolve to build a world where Black lives are valued and protected.”

SEE ALSO:

Ferguson 10: Michael Brown Should Be Here, Be 28 And Be Living His Best Life

Michael Brown And The Legacy Of Police Violence In Black Communities

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