Michael Brown – Houghton STAR

On what many thought was an ordinary August day, within a suburb outside of St. Louis, in Ferguson MO, a not so ordinary incident occurred. Michael Brown an unarmed African American 18 year-old was shot and killed by a white police officer, Brian Wilson. The event initiated violent riots and protests throughout the country, which have continued and only heightened after the grand jury made their final decision. The account of the event has varied. However reliable sources state Brown fled from a Market and Liquor store where he and one other person stole cigarillos, a type of cigar.

A block away, Officer Wilson met him on the street. Wilson then proceeded to stop the men, calling them from his S.U.V. A quarrel erupted between the two, where some witnesses say Brown attempted to grab the officer’s gun. Two shots were fired, missing and/or grazing the teenager. The officer supposedly proceeded to chase the suspect. Brown then turned and began to run towards the officer who fired several more shots. A majority of the evidence collected appears to support this testimony, investigators say.
The grand jury, made up of 9 whites and 3 blacks, was responsible for determining whether or not there was a probable cause to indict Officer Wilson with crime. A New York Times article reported the recently published transcripts, forensic and photographic evidence by the county prosecutor, which is traditionally kept clandestinely away from the public.

The Ferguson case is arguably unique and intricate in more than one way. First, typical court cases are usually presented to a jury within one day whereas the grand jury in the Ferguson case met over a span of 25 days within a 3 month period. Secondly, the grand jury received testimonies of the incident from over 60 witnesses. A jury will usually see only two to three witnesses per case. Thirdly, a jury doesn’t usually hear from the defendant themselves, however Officer Wilson’s testified for 4 hours. Fourthly, a prosecutor generally offers a range of specific charges, which a grand jury may base their indictment on. In the Ferguson case, Robert P. McCulloch, the county prosecutor, did not recommend any charges against Wilson. Lastly, under Missouri Law, all evidence and related material is kept secret within the courtroom, and may be submitted at a later trial. Not so here, McCulloch released all documents following the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Wilson.

However, the case doesn’t end here. Two investigations are underway. A civil rights inquiry was opened up by the F.B.I., involving the shootings that took place on August 11. The other civil rights investigation was opened by the Justice Department, who has begun to examine whether the policy in Ferguson have a historical background of discrimination and exploitation of force. The death of Michael Brown sparked numerous protests and riots for weeks. Buildings were set on fire and raids on business were reported. Police were forced to respond with tear gas and rubber bullets. Governor Jay Nixon deployed the state’s National Guard to curb the violent responses prior and post the jury’s decision.

Recently President Obama responded to the uprisings following the grand jury’s decision, suggesting this case represents “the broader challenges we still face as a nation,” involving discrimination. Furthermore, the President responded to accusations of racism in Ferguson as a result of the “legacy of racial discrimination in this country.” These statements reflect the facts that Ferguson County consists predominantly of black communities.

Nearly the entire police force in Ferguson consists of white males, with the exception of four blacks. This ratio reflects a historical trend ‘white flight’ in many American cities over the last few decades. As many white families moved out to the suburbs, black families have moved into the suburbs. However, the large number of white officers may reflect the nature of job placement or historical relationships and ties to the community.

As riots and protests are breaking out around the country, people are wondering what will happen next. The death of Michael Brown has raised questions about the relationship between black communities and law enforcement. Perhaps the case reiterates the demand for our nation to address our criminal justice system. However, without a doubt in terms of dispensing true justice, many contend our system is the best in the world. “But, like every facet of the American democratic experience…,” CNN legal analysis and criminal defense attorney, Mark O’Mara remarks, “…it can use polishing.” Within these months and even years to follow, The Justice Department will be forced to grapple and respond to these harsh realities facing our nation today as it pertains to justice and discrimination.

Following the grand jury decision to not indict Darren Wilson for any crimes in the killing of Michael Brown, the matter remains, in the hearts and minds of many, unresolved. What now?

On the most basic level, we must resolve the injustice in Brown’s death: a human being died at the hands of a police officer under circumstances steeped in a deeply troubling senselessness or even maliciousness.

Brown deserves justice, but justice is not wholly dependent on what happens to Wilson. Complete justice involves a larger scope. It requires tackling not just an individual but the system from which that individual emerged and the flaws in that system which people perpetuate with continued unresponsiveness.

By now you have probably heard the prevalent slogans, “Black Lives Matter” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.” These simple but poignant phrases address two major concerns in Ferguson: racism and police brutality. Advocating police accountability offers partial solutions to both.

As Michael Jeffries said in The Boston Globe, “The simplicity of the phrase [Black Lives Matter] is a national shame.” While we struggle to figure out the degree to which Brown’s race influenced Wilson’s actions, Jeffries pointed out that, “Brown is described as ‘it’ and ‘a demon’ in his killer’s testimony.” While this does not directly indicate racism, it portrays with disturbing clarity Wilson’s sense of otherness towards Brown: Wilson has stripped Brown of his humanity.

“Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” addresses the police’s use of excessive force. A chart compiled by PBS Newshour indicated witnesses agreed with high consistency that Brown put his hands up in surrender when Wilson fired upon him. At least six of Wilson’s shots hit Brown, two of which impacted his head. After Brown’s death, the police abused peaceful protestors. According to a Vox article by German Lopez, “police donned riot gear, wielded sniper rifles, rode on armored vehicles that resembled tanks, fired rubber bullets, and launched tear gas – a chemical weapon banned from international warfare – into demonstrating crowds.” Beyond the obvious physical harm this caused, the police’s actions blew open an already perilously wide trust gap between the residents of Ferguson and the police.

According to The Washington Post editorial board, “Congress in 1994 told the Justice Department to collect and publish national numbers on the excessive use of force, but federal officials have never managed to do it.” The system will not change without transparency.

In the past few years American police forces have started implementing body cameras and car dashboard cameras. The Ferguson Police Department owns cameras, but Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the department does not have the money to implement the technology. The Ferguson police would better serve their community by wearing cameras than wearing riot gear.

Shadee Ashtari and Sara Boboltz said in the The Huffington Post that police obtain military-grade weaponry largely through the 1033 program which provides “billions of dollars’ worth of surplus military weapons at no charge” to police departments nationwide. The police action following Brown’s death indicates a significant need for greater accountability regarding the equipment and its use. It would make more sense if police received free cameras and had to budget for weaponry according to necessity.

Similarly, Wilson’s actions against Brown imply a basic need within the police force to increase officer training that focuses on de-escalating an altercation. Retired police sergeant and criminal justice educator Peter Jirasek told The Huffington Post that “if you only seek to wound someone by shooting, you do not have justification to shoot at all.”

I feel powerless when faced with an issue as ubiquitous and enigmatic as police accountability, but as a first step we can sign various petitions created as backlash to the police’s use of force against peaceful protestors and supporting the dissolution of the 1033 program. In the long term we can pay closer attention to the bents of the politicians we vote for. Maplight, a nonpartisan research organization, has a map displaying which house representatives voted for a congressional amendment which would have effectively disbanded the 1033 program had it passed. We must educate ourselves because we have no simple or quick solution to injustice; we must vote into power politicians committed to standing with us in solidarity.

Ferguson has the power to take the media attention it has already gained and direct the attention of politicians, police, and voters alike by putting the spotlight on important conversations – racism and police accountability – so let’s talk.