Protesters interrupt St. Louis Symphony to perform 'Requiem for Mike Brown'

In what’s perhaps the classiest protest to arise from the streets of Ferguson, Mo., a group of demonstrators interrupted the St. Louis Symphony’s performance Saturday to drop banners and sing a classical arrangement called “Requiem for Michael Brown.”

According to the St. Louis American, the stunt was the brainchild of Sarah Griesbach, who called it her “duty and desire to try to reach out and raise that awareness peacefully but also to disrupt the blind state of white St. Louis, particularly among the people who are secure in their blindness.”

While the singers gave their impromptu and uninvited performance from the seats, protesters in the balcony lowered banners spray-painted with the messages “Requiem for Mike Brown 1996-2014,” “Racism lives here,” and “Rise up and join the movement.”

Pretty powerful scene: Demonstrators interrupt STL symphony singing a 'Requiem for Mike Brown': http://t.co/7IhMzcITfH via @YouTube

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) October 5, 2014

The protest received applause from many of the musicians on stage and consternation from a good portion of the audience.

Virtual bow to Sarah Griesbach who organized the operatic disruption of StL Symphony last night by protesters. #RequiemforMikeBrown

— Geo Harrold (@SistahChef) October 5, 2014

@cjayconrod Sarah Griesbach 42. White.

— Shanelle Little (@ShanelleLittle) October 5, 2014

I'm always proud of @slso; more so after last night when musicians from one if world's great orchestras applauded protest from stage.

— Charles Jaco (@charlesjaco1) October 5, 2014

Told u we were working on banners. RT: "@HotepTNT: We did it y'all @OBS_StL #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/DDFS2oA0N2”

— OBS_StL (@OBS_STL) October 5, 2014

#furgeson organizers lay it out by disrupting symphony RT @AntonioFrench: #RequiemforMikeBrown http://t.co/Ni38cc5xq4 pic.twitter.com/lUDaILVy9z

— Angie Evans (@AngieBEvans) October 5, 2014

Cheers to Mike Brown, activists with courage and then to slso audience who drowned out boos. In that order.

— Colleen (@colleenkelly) October 5, 2014

If protestors made you feel uncomfortable good. You should be. It's immoral to ignore the unjust suffering of others. #RequiemforMikeBrown

— zellie (@zellieimani) October 5, 2014

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/518919845598224385

From last night, it is as if she just got robbed. Appalled at #RequiemforMikeBrown. Man next her calls MB a thug. pic.twitter.com/0YFkD6W4zE

— deray (@deray) October 5, 2014

@deray I've never hit anyone, but………….in my head, I'm slappin' her. Racists disgust the hell outta me.& pull up your dress bitch.

— ToImpeachTrumpPress1 (@amymeansjustice) October 5, 2014