( ENSPIRE NEWS ) The First African-American and First Woman to Win the Mayoral Office in Ferguson, Missouri, Ella Jones
ENSPIRED CONTRIBUTOR: Tyler Burns
In Ferguson, MO., on the night of June 2nd, Ella Jones became the first African-American and first woman elected to the mayoral office. This occurs nearly six years after city-wide protests against the white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, a black teenager. This victory for Ms. Jones came on as another night of protests unfolded across the world over the murder of George Floyd. Ella Jones, 65, won 54% of the vote and beat out her opponent Heather Robinett, 49, to secure the mayoral seat. Both the candidates supported the peaceful protests across the country while condemning the violence that has broken out in some cities across the country.
“It’s just our time,” Mayor. Jones told the St. Louis Dispatch. “It’s just my time to do right by the people.” When asked what her historic election would mean for Ferguson’s black residents, she gave the media outlet, “One word: inclusion.”
“I’ve got work to do — because when you’re an African-American woman, they require more of you than they require of my counterpart,” Ms. Jones said after her victory, in a video that was posted online.
“I know the people in Ferguson are ready to stabilize their community, and we’re going to work together to get it done.” The victory of Ella Jones in Ferguson is massive for several reasons but mainly it displays the power of voting and representing your community in a genuine way. She lost a mayoral race in 2017 to her predecessor, Mr. Knowles, and she came back with a more defined platform that really resonated with her constituents. Congratulations Ms. Jones on your historic victory.
