At 11, Marquis Govan Has Some Things To Say About Ferguson

[sheshe2]

He lowered the microphone to match his 11-year-old height before speaking.

"The people of Ferguson, I believe, don't need tear gas thrown at them," Marquis said. "I believe they need jobs. I believe the people of Ferguson, they don't need to be hit with batons. What they need is people to be investing in their businesses."

snip

"You're paying attention to the looting and things like that, when the real issues aren't being solved," he told the council. "There's a reason why those people are out there."

He spoke with no notes.

"I couldn't believe it, because I've seen adults come before us to speak, and they might have their prepared statement, and they stumble through it because they're nervous," says Councilwoman Hazel Erby. "Marquis was just perfect."

snip

"One of the questions he asked just blew everybody away. I think he said, 'How are you going to create businesses? We have businesses now. But how are you going to create businesses and then retain them in St. Louis County?' " she says. "Whatever he said, it was so intellectual that I couldn't even go back and repeat it."

Read More: http://www.npr.org/2014/09/07/346484594/at-11-marquis-govan-has-some-things-to-say-about-ferguson?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140907

[AverageJoe90]

1. This fella knew just what he wanted to say.

I can tell he's gonna go places. Thanks sheshe2.

[JimDandy]

2. And it's just nauseating

that one of the council members he had to speak to was a former FPD officer currently being sued by an black victim that the FPD incorrectly identified and arrested. She helped beat up that victim in his holding cell and then charged him with the crime of bleeding on her uniform.

[freshwest]

3. When one speaks the truth, their spirit uplifts them and gives them the words. It doesn't need notes

[sheshe2]

4. ^^^^This^^^^

Yes freshwest, this.

[Cha]

5. Excellent words of wisdom on Ferguson, MO, from Marquis Govan, she.. Precocious young lad..

Here's another gem of his from your link..

"When he's not at county council meetings, Marquis is a student at Loyola Academy in St. Louis. Between classes, the sixth-grade political junkie opines on national politics, deriding certain senators as "politicrats."

"I will call Mary Landrieu a politicrat," he says. "I will call Mark Pryor a politicrat. They will do anything to stay in Washington."

Michael Brown

[sheshe2]

7. Out of the mouths of our children Cha.

Bless them all. They are our future.

[Cha]

8. Marquis Govan is brilliant, she.. Kicking for him and Michael Brown~

[Stellar]

6. Whoa....impressive!!!!

[pansypoo53219]

9. more about him on NPR. its his grandma or great-grandma who took him in after his 1st few years

in foster care. she too him w/ her when she voted + at 5 he was hooked.