JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KSDK) – After one week and more than 100 miles, the Journey for Justice march ended inside the Missouri State Capitol building Friday.

The march started last weekend on Canfield Drive in Ferguson, where 18-year old Michael Brown died. The NAACP organized the march, which began with about 250 participants.

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“It was to bring light and attention to the disproportionate number of African American men and boys who are killed by law enforcement officers across the country,” said Roslyn Brock, Chair of the NAACP board.

The group walked until sundown each day. A bus traveled with the group, and returned the participants back to St. Louis each night. Those who participated said they met some support along the way, but also some challenges.

“It was a long journey,” recounted Brock. “We were met by people who blew their horns, and we were met by people who rolled their windows down, stuck their middle fingers out and called us the n-word.”

Brock said, at one point, a projectile even hit the bus’s back window. It didn’t break through the entire window, and nobody was injured.

“You know what, we live in a democracy with First Amendment rights for individuals to express themselves, but we were disciplined and we continued to walk in the tradition of the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s,” Brock said.

The rally at the Capitol building filled the rotunda, as well as the balconies several floors above. Several NAACP representatives, including President and CEO Cornell William Brooks, spoke to the crowd. Religious leaders led the group in prayer.

Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, also spoke for a few moments.

“I want to thank everybody for everything — all of the support, all of the love,” she said. “We’ve watched this [case] play out unfairly and non-transparently for months. We’re here to ask the government and the governor to live up to what we expect him to do.”

Governor Jay Nixon, however, did not attend Friday’s rally. A spokesperson said the governor had other obligations Friday, but met with NAACP leaders for several hours earlier in the week. The governor released this statement by email Friday morning:

“I was honored to meet with the leadership of our nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization during the march from Ferguson to the capital this week…

“For over a century, the NAACP has been a strong and powerful voice for justice and equality. Through honest dialogue and mutual respect, I’m confident that together we can make meaningful change to address the challenges underlying the events in Ferguson, and build a future of greater peace, opportunity and fairness for all.”

Mary Ratliff attended that meeting with the governor. She said they discussed Michael Brown’s death, the governor’s decision not to appoint a special prosecutor in that case, and other issues.

“We talked about racial profiling laws and the need to meet further with him and to dialogue about racial issues and the racial tensions in this state,” she said.

Brock said she feels conversations like the ones this week in Jefferson City should continue.

“We need to heal our land from discrimination and racism in our nation. We’ve come a long way, a mighty long way in this nation. But we need to continue to have those difficult, courageous conversations about how we can do better,” she said.