FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – The unmistakable signs of healing are beginning to dot Ferguson, even the small area of this St. Louis-area suburb that was the center of attention for three weeks. But those in the community know they’ve got a long way to go.
Some merchants say business hasn’t come close to recovering from the aftermath of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, by a white Ferguson police officer.
Businesses along a stretch of West Florissant Avenue that were victimized by looting are replacing boarded up windows, with signs out front reading, “Open For Business.” People who have been too scared to take their kids out of the home are milling about once again. A barbecue joint nearly torn apart hasn’t been fully repaired, but an outdoor grill fills the air with a tantalizing smoky aroma.
“Look at those signs over there,” Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said as his SUV drove past a row of tidy ranch-style homes, all with “I Love Ferguson” signs in their front yards. “A few days ago those signs would have been ripped up or thrown in a trash can or painted on. And they stand today.
“That is definitely symbolic of marching down the road toward solutions and a better tomorrow.”