March scheduled Feb. 15 to protest lack of arrests in shooting death
Residents and an activist group plan to march through downtown Uniontown on Feb. 15 to protest the lack of arrests in the Christmas Eve shooting death of 12-year-old Michael Ellerbe. Local residents met Saturday with members of People Against Police Violence (PAPV) from Pittsburgh to plan the demonstration, which organizers said could bring thousands of marchers, including NAACP president Kweisi Mfume and the Rev. Al Sharpton, a presidential candidate and national activist for blacks.
“This march is something like Pennsylvania has never seen before,” said the Rev. Robert Spence, speaking before about 50 people who gathered Saturday at the Lemon Wood Acres community center in North Union Township.
Main Street is the expected route of the march, but the starting time and other details have yet to be worked out.
Rev. Spence also advised everybody that good conduct during the march would give them and their cause credibility.
“Love will change everything,” Rev. Spence said, reminding those in attendance that the Bible tells people to love their neighbors and enemies. “If God is with us, how can we do the wrong thing? We’re living in an evil world. We’re living in an evil time, but we don’t have to be part of that.”
He said the adults taking part in the march should set examples for the youths that will be watching them.
Rev. Spence also said federal authorities are still investigating the shooting, and he suggested asking the U.S. Department of Justice to get involved in the case.
Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon announced Friday that she wouldn’t prosecute the state police troopers involved in the fatal shooting of Ellerbe, who was shot in the back by a state police officer after the trooper and his partner stopped a stolen vehicle allegedly driven by Ellerbe in Uniontown.
Vernon’s announcement followed a coroner’s inquest jury ruling on Monday that the shooting was justified.
Renee Wilson of PAPV said those decisions must be challenged.
“How fair is that?” Wilson said about the ruling from the all-white coroner’s jury and Vernon’s decision. “There are some serious questions.”
She said she does not understand why no charges were filed against the police.
Tracy Calloway, 19, of Uniontown said as many people as possible must “speak up” to win justice for the Ellerbe family and the community.
Tina Whitehead, wife of local pastor the Rev. Thomas Whitehead, told the group she also wants to see justice served and didn’t want Ellerbe to have died for no reason.
Wilson encouraged those from the county to join PAPV members in opposing police violence.
“It’s not just a problem today,” Wilson said. “It’s been a problem.”
Renee Dixon said her uncle Charles Dixon died Dec. 21, just three day before Ellerbe died, after a confrontation with police in Pittsburgh’s Mount Oliver section.
“My uncle won’t rest in peace until justice is served,” Dixon said, adding that her uncle died after a “brutal beating” by police.
She said she supports the Ellerbe family and understands their grief.
Victoria Thompson told the gathering that she too supported their efforts and that PAPV is not a political organization.
“We’re just ordinary people tired of injustice,” Thompson said.