A coalition of activist groups is planning a this week to commemorate the first anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.鈥檚 fatal police shooting on Aug. 9, 2014.
Nearly a dozen groups are participating in the so-called 鈥淯nited We Fight鈥� activities that begin Friday morning and culminate with a day of civil disobedience on Monday.
Non-violent demonstrators will continue pushing for reforms in community policing and court systems nationwide, said Montague Simmons who chairs the Organization for Black Struggle.
鈥淲e come together this week to first and foremost to commemorate our dead, not just Mike Brown but for all the lives [that have been lost] over the last year,鈥� he said.
The events will include marches, concerts and memorial services for numerous black citizens killed by police, including and . The coalition is calling on police to exercise restraint and practice de-escalation techniques while interacting with protesters on the streets.
