St. Mark Family Church sits a few blocks away from where shops went up in flames in Ferguson Missouri, following the grand jury decision in the Michael Brown case.<br /><br />During a small Thanksgiving ceremony Reverend Tommie Pierson addressed the congregation saying, “Let this day be the beginning of healing and unity in all or our communities.”<br /><br />“It has been a really sad situation,” noted parishioner Norma Meeks. “I pray for both families. And I hope and pray that everybody will have peace.”<br /><br />Brown’s family sat down to their first thanks giving with an empty seat for their son and brother. Activists took to social media to express their solidarity. Under the hashtag #StolenLives people shared photos of their Thanksgiving dinner with an empty chair.<br /><br />PIC: Mike Brown’s family sits at the table for their first holiday dinner without him. #StolenLives pic.twitter.com/OytgyiGLXI— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) November 28, 2014<br /><br />Marlon Brown was run over&murdered by police over a seat belt violation.His family saves a seat for him #StolenLives pic.twitter.com/Iaq6Bl3Xt6— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) November 27, 2014<br /><br />A few members of the Ferguson Action team save a seat at the table for the #StolenLives lost to police violence. pic.twitter.com/IAgeIXDOlI— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) November 28, 2014<br /><br />Mike Browns family has an empty seat at the table.In solidarity share a pic of an empty seat at ur table #StolenLives pic.twitter.com/uQIQkhCPB7— Courtney Summers (@courtneycat16) November 27, 2014<br /><br />The jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer for killing a black teenager sparked protests across the US, and focused attention on the strained relations between black communities and law enforcement.<br /><br />Authorities in Missouri hoped the holiday reprieve would mark a turning point in the protests.
