Police use of deadly force decried at West Babylon prayer vigil

About 40 people gathered Sunday outside the Suffolk County Police Department's First Precinct in West Babylon for a prayer vigil to support the family of Michael Brown, the African-American teen shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

The 3 p.m. vigil was held in response to a Nov. 24 grand jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Brown, 18, in August. He was unarmed.

"We feel that the decision not to bring indictment suggests an unfair distribution of justice," said Bishop Andy Lewter, president of Long Island Organizing Network, which held the vigil. "Even though we are 1,000 miles removed from Missouri, we feel a kinship with that situation, because there are Michael Browns and Ferguson-type situations all across this country."

Pastors from several area churches stood on the lawn across from the police department, 555 Route 109, and said prayers for Brown and their own communities.

Lewter said the small crowd wanted to support Brown's family in prayer, but was not protesting police in West Babylon.

"We're not targeting the Suffolk County Police Department," he said. "We're simply using this location to symbolize our concern about abusive and deadly force being used around the country."

At the end of the approximately 30-minute service, Lewter thanked police for accommodating the vigil, and the crowd applauded the officers. Police on the scene declined to comment.

Several officers posed with some of the youths in attendance while their families took pictures. While the atmosphere was friendly with police Sunday, several youths expressed concern about the use of police force beyond their own communities.

"There have to be checks," said JaQwele Nelson, 14, of Melville, who was photographed with police officers. "They're just shooting them, asking questions afterwards."

JaQwele said he wanted to attend the vigil because he was upset after learning that Wilson wouldn't be indicted. He said it was unfair.

Thirteen-year-old Kaywon Green of Amityville echoed JaQwele's statement.

"Policemen are taking other people's lives and they deny it, and they always get away with it," he said.