Demonstrators stand in an overflow crowd outside of a church where civil rights leader Al Sharpton spoke with community leaders, as communities continue to react to the shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 17, 2014. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder ordered a federal autopsy of Brown, a teenager shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, seeking to assure the family and community there will be a thorough investigation into a death that has sparked days of racially charged protests. | (Photo: Reuters/Lucas Jackson)
The protesters in Ferguson may finally have something to smile about, should they be crowned Time magazine's 2014 Person of the Year.
On Monday, Time magazine editor Nancy Gibbs revealed the eight finalists on the "Today" show and Ferguson protesters, who contested the death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, are among the nominees.
Since the Aug. 9 death of Brown, the group has launched demonstrations around Ferguson demanding justice in the form of police officer Darren Wilson's arrest.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.
Protesters gesture as they stand in a street in defiance of a midnight curfew meant to stem ongoing demonstrations in reaction to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 17, 2014. The group of protesters angry at the shooting death of Brown, a black teenager, by a white police officer remained on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, early on Sunday minutes past the declared curfew, as police began to clear the streets in a tense standoff. | (Photo: Reuters/Lucas Jackson)Police officers point their weapons at demonstrators protesting against the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Aug. 18, 2014. | (Photo: Reuters/Joshua Lott)
Last month Wilson, who fatally shot Brown after a violent encounter, was cleared of wrong doing by a St. Louis grand jury which fueled racial unrest and heightened tensions between protesters and police.
"Every day, still in the news, and in this case, expanding across the country into the case of Eric Garner. It's launched a whole new conversation about race relations and the administration of justice in this country," Gibbs said on "Today."
On Dec. 3 a Staten Island grand jury decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the choke hold death of African-American Eric Garner which sparked more nationwide protests. Hundreds of thousands of activists have since united to launch demonstrations contesting the deaths of both Brown and Garner.
The Lower Manhattan skyline, including One World Trade Center, is seen in the background as protesters, demanding justice for Eric Garner, enter Brooklyn off the Brooklyn Bridge in New York December 4, 2014. Protesters swarmed streets of Manhattan and other cities for a second night of mostly peaceful rallies to denounce a New York grand jury's decision to spare a white police officer from criminal prosecution in the choking death of an unarmed black man. The reaction to Wednesday's decision not to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo for his role in the videotaped confrontation that left 43-year-old Eric Garner dead echoed a wave of outrage sparked nine days earlier by a similar outcome in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman in Ferguson, Missouri. | (Photo: Reuters/Elizabeth Shafiroff)
Each Year, Time magazine recognizes an individual or group that has had the most significant impact (culturally and/or politically) over the course of the year.
Other nominees include Apple CEO Tim Cook, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, pop star Taylor Swift, the Ebola caregivers (doctors and nurses), Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani.
Last year, Pope Francis was named Time's 2013 Person of the Year. Other previous winners have included President Barack Obama and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday via the "Today" show. The results will also be shared on Facebook and Twitter.
Was this article helpful?
Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.
By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone.
