Ferguson Protesters Celebrate Thanksgiving In A Church, Actively Boycott Black Friday

FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 27: people stand outside near National Guard troops and police officers positioned outside of a closed Walmart November 27, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Local businesses still remain closed to consumers in Ferguson as tension continue to still run high the community after Michael Brown, a 18-year-old black male teenager was fatally wounded by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson Police officer on August 9, 2014. A St. Louis County 12-member grand jury who reviewed evidence related to the shooting decided Monday not to indict Wilson with charges sparking riots through out Ferguson. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

ST. LOUIS -- Ferguson protesters gathered in a church basement to celebrate Thanksgiving with one another on the eve of Black Friday, before beginning active boycotts of Walmart and Target stores.

A little over 100 protesters, churchgoers and volunteers celebrated Thanksgiving at St. Luke's African Methodist Episcopal Church on Thursday night. The basement room was filled with joy as people chatted, ate and sang songs, including spiritual hymns and protest chants.

"Victory is mine. Victory is mine. Victory today is mine," people sang triumphantly, just days after mourning upon hearing the grand jury's decision to not indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for fatally shooting unarmed teenager Michael Brown in August. The protests sparked by Brown's death flared up again after Monday night's announcement by the St. Louis prosecutor.

Thursday's dinner was prepared by "Mama Cat," a woman who's become a mother figure to protesters.

"Just ate this amazing home-cooked meal by Mama Cat and now we're listening to this New York City choir sing. It's amazing right now," said Amy Dalton, 38, a "community minister" from New York who arrived in the area Saturday and was at the dinner.

Dalton continued to praise the singers, known as Reverend Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir. "They're bringing energy to this room, using the power of their living memories to give us strength to keep going forward. I just feel very blessed to be witness to this and to living and participating in this and hopefully helping a little bit," she said.

Protesters started chanting, "No justice, no peace" in the first Walmart they visited Thursday night.

After dinner, the group decided to head to Walmart for a demonstration, without a game plan or mention of the protest on social media. Once inside, the protesters grabbed carts and pretended to be shopping. One protester started chanting, "No justice, no peace," and others joined in. Many shoppers looked confused by the demonstration and pulled out their phones to record the event. The protesters were then aggressively escorted by police officers and barking German shepherds out of the Walmart and off the property.

"Shut it down, shut it tight. The bosses can't profit when you fight," the protesters chanted.

Protesters chant outside the second Walmart they visited Thursday night.

The protesters traveled across town to a Target and then to another Walmart. When they reached their fourth stop -- yet another Walmart -- they were met by a line of police officers and locked doors.

Their night of demonstrations ended. However, they had several more actions planned for Black Friday, as part of a larger #BlackoutBlackFriday movement that called for boycotts of stores on one of the largest shopping days of the year.

Black Friday protest at target #live #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/HKn2BAVxgc
— Mariah Randi Stewart (@MzzzMariah) November 28, 2014

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jordan Johnson, left, 8, from Washington, Camille Chrysostom of Bowie, Md., and Jaimee Swift of Philadelphia, observe a moment of silence at Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcom X Park, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 in Washington, to protest the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Mo. Vigils were held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People in a crowd hold signs and listen to speakers at a demonstration on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Decatur, Georgia, in the town square. The demonstration of more than 200 people was held in response to the shooting death of Michael Brown and following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

An unidentified man holds a banner on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Decatur, Georgia, in the town square. The demonstration of more than 200 people was held in response to the shooting death of Michael Brown and following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

An unidentified man wearing a crown listens as a speaker addresses the crowd on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Decatur, Georgia. The demonstration of more than 200 people was held in response to the shooting death of Michael Brown and following unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Protesters march through Leimert Park to protest the shooting of an unarmed man in Ferguson, Mo., and other victims of police shootings, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Protesters walk in the middle of Crenshaw Blvd. to protest the shooting of an unarmed man in Ferguson, Missouri and other victims of police shootings, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators peacefully gather Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A demonstrator holds up a sign Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rev. Traci Blackmon uses a megaphone to talk to a large group of demonstrators Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thousands of demonstrators peacefully march down a street with members of the St. Louis County Police and Missouri Highway Patrol Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstraters peacefully march down a street Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Protesters march in New York Cityâs Union Square, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014. Vigils are being held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. The events come in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a New York City man caused by a police officer's apparent chokehold. (AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

About 1000 people march peacefully in New York Cityâs Union Square, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014. Vigils are being held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. The events come in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a New York City man caused by a police officer's apparent chokehold. (AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators hold candles and signs Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Hundreds of people protesting the death of Michael Brown marched through the streets of Ferguson alongside state troopers Thursday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Supporters raise their hands during a rally at Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcom X Park, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 in Washington, to protest the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Mo. Vigils were held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A group of women take part in a candlelight vigil in New York, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, after nearly 1000 people marched in New Yorkâs Union Square. Vigils are being held across the country for people organizers say died at the hands of police brutality. The events come in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a New York City man caused by a police officer's apparent chokehold. (AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak)

Scott Olson via Getty Images

FERGUSON, MO - AUGUST 14: Capt. Ronald Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was appointed by the governor to take control of security operations in the city of Ferguson, walks among demonstrators gathered along West Florissant Avenue on August 14, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Violent protests have erupted along West Florissant in Ferguson each of the last four nights as demonstrators express outrage over the shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer on August 9.The governor appointed Johnson after receiving numerous complaints about the excessive show and use of force by the police against protestors and the news media covering the demonstrations. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today called for the demilitarization of the police. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)