Hands Up United

Hands Up United

Hands Up United is a grassroots activist organization formed in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown. It emerged alongside movements such as Black Lives Matter and allied with groups like the NAACP, ACLU, and local chapters of Black Youth Project to mobilize protests, voter registration, and policy advocacy. The organization has participated in national demonstrations, municipal policy campaigns, and community organizing efforts across the United States.

History

Hands Up United was founded in the months following the August 2014 shooting of Michael Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Early activities included coordination with protesters at the Ferguson unrest, collaboration with activists associated with Black Lives Matter, and engagement with civil rights organizations such as the NAACP and the ACLU. The group organized actions during related national moments including demonstrations in New York City after the deaths of Eric Garner and Amadou Diallo, and aligned with advocacy around federal investigations by the Department of Justice into policing practices. Hands Up United also intersected with local political actors in St. Louis County, Missouri and participated in dialogues involving the Ferguson Commission and municipal reform efforts.

Mission and Activities

Hands Up United's stated mission centers on racial justice, police accountability, and criminal justice reform. The group has conducted voter registration drives, partnered with civic organizations like MoveOn.org and community groups in St. Louis, Missouri, and engaged in public education alongside scholars connected to Howard University and Princeton University who research race and policing. Activities have included organizing marches, sit-ins, and public forums; supporting families affected by police violence such as the family of Michael Brown; and advocating for policy changes like independent oversight boards and revised use-of-force policies informed by precedents from cities like Oakland, California and Chicago, Illinois.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Hands Up United developed as a decentralized coalition with local organizers, community leaders, and student activists. Leadership included grassroots coordinators drawn from activist networks that overlapped with groups such as Black Youth Project, Project NIA, and faith-based organizations including local chapters of Pulpit & Politics and congregations from the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The organizational model emphasized direct action and community organizing rather than formal hierarchical governance, echoing structures used by contemporary movements like Occupy Wall Street and national coalitions such as Dream Defenders. Hands Up United engaged with elected officials, community boards, and legal advocates including attorneys affiliated with the National Lawyers Guild during major demonstrations and civil rights campaigns.

Protests and Campaigns

Hands Up United coordinated and supported protests during high-profile incidents of police violence, joining solidarity events after the deaths of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Freddie Gray. The group organized local demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri, participated in national days of action in Washington, D.C. and New York City, and staged civil disobedience inspired by tactics from historic movements such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Chicago Freedom Movement. Campaigns included voter mobilization ahead of municipal elections in St. Louis County, Missouri, demands for body-worn camera policies modeled on initiatives in Seattle, Washington, and calls for prosecutorial accountability paralleling debates involving the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney and other state attorneys general. Hands Up United collaborated with legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild and media organizations including The New York Times and The Washington Post in documenting protests.

Criticism and Controversies

Hands Up United faced criticism over tactics, messaging, and organizational transparency. Some law enforcement agencies, municipal officials in St. Louis County, Missouri, and conservative commentators questioned the group's methods and public statements during civil disturbances. Debates occurred within activist circles—alongside organizations like Black Lives Matter and Color Of Change—about strategy, resource allocation, and relationships with mainstream civil rights institutions such as the NAACP and philanthropic organizations. Additionally, discussions around police reform in forums involving the Department of Justice and the Ferguson Commission highlighted tensions between protest demands and municipal policy constraints, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers in the Missouri General Assembly and legal analysts in outlets like The Atlantic.

Category:Civil rights organizations in the United States Category:2014 establishments in Missouri