The Michael Brown verdict has been announced. There will be no charges brought against Officer Darren Wilson for the August shooting of unarmed teen, Michael Brown.
The grand jury is a secret process, and therefore, it isn’t known whether the decision was unanimous. However, after pouring over evidence and interviewing witnesses time and again, there were enough votes to at least reach the required 9 of twelve.
Prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch, who made the announcement to the media, stated that many witnesses on both sides of the story were thoroughly interviewed, but after the autopsy showed that Michael Brown had not been shot from the back, many of the witnesses in that camp changed their stories.
A couple of them disappeared before they were supposed to testify before the grand jury.
McCulloch also stated that he doesn’t know if there will be federal charges, but the information that the jury saw is now an “open file” under the sunshine law since the investigation is now closed.
The Michael Brown verdict on whether or not to indict Darren Wilson has been, to say the least, long awaited. Since Darren Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown back in August, protests in Ferguson, Missouri and the surrounding areas have been held. Some of them peaceful, some of them voilent and destructive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMoQbVJvKPo
Many people across the nation are holding their breath and are waiting to see what the reaction to an unpopular verdict will be in the town and the areas around. Hopefully the protests will remain, at the behest of everyone from the president to the family of Michael Brown, peaceful and purposeful.
TEAR GAS DEPLOYED. #FERGUSON
LIVE FEED – http://t.co/x9rVk8Zy8u pic.twitter.com/RltiDwY6N2
— PzFeed Top News (@PzFeed) November 25, 2014
The looting and violent destruction that came after the Michael Brown shooting left Ferguson marred and its citizens and business owners fearful. Many of those same business owners closed their shops and boarded them up in anticipation of what might come.
Some violence breaks out in Ferguson, with at least one police car destroyed. #FergusonDecision http://t.co/n4rHuvhASS
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 25, 2014
Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream
Tear gas – people running and screaming. #ferguson
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) November 25, 2014
They are not the only ones who should be worried. Last week, a militant group called RbG Black Rebels made violent threats against everyone from police to shop owners and even offered $5,000 for the location of Officer Darren Wilson. Those tweets have since been removed.
Obama speaking professorially, as tear gas flies in #Ferguson
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) November 25, 2014
Officers are being hit with rocks and bottles on South Florissant Road. #Ferguson.
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) November 25, 2014
It seems that just moments after the announcement, however, looting and violence was already being reported.
BREAKING: BP gas station in #ferguson reports looters inside the gas station http://t.co/FVUetLipXg
Just one of several reports of looters.
— al tompkins (@atompkins) November 25, 2014
A nation’s thoughts are with the citizens of Ferguson and the surrounding areas tonight, and we remain hopeful that the right to protest will be carried out as peacefully as possible without any more tragedy.
What do you think of the violence and looting that is reportedly already going on in and around Ferguson after the Michael Brown announcement? Is it justified?