How does vandalism and looting accomplish anything???

[TLSnell1981]

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Hopefully, it will bring comfort and peace to Michael Brown's family.

 

[nugov2]

Can't bother to read the thread and jump in with a liberal media comment. I think your bias is showing...

HUH I don't get your point other than to just be nasty. Why can't someone post without reading the thread. The obviously know what is being discussed.

 

[LBIJim]

I have a feeling the initial reaction in the community had a lot to do with the poor relationship between law enforcement and the community. There seems to be a lack of trust and disrespect towards one another on both sides. The shooting didn't cause that, it just brought it to a head.

Yep, initially that appears to be the case. The latest in a long history of perceived injustices. Then it all blew out of control.

The police chief says they have recruited black officers, but simply put, there has been little interest from the residents. With such a high unemployment rate, you would think people would be lining up, but in my opinion, it might lead to being ostracised by the community, which may prevent some from applying.

They talked about this on the news yesterday. Part of the problem is to be a police officer (not sure specifically in Ferguson, but in general they said) was you have to not have a criminal background and a certain amount of education. It can't be just because someone is unemployed they can apply for that job. But, I could see the ostracizing taking place also.

There's apparently been a decades long sense of mistrust and disrespect between the African-American population and the Ferguson police department. I don't know if this mistrust is justified, but it appears to be very real. Even with high unemployment, it's not surprising that few blacks in the community would want to apply. Even those with a clean record and adequate level of education are equally likely to be uninterested. Sure, ostracizing could be a deterrent, but it appears to be more of a lack of respect and a perceived "those people don't know their place" attitude of the PD.

 

[Tomader]

I think the police know exactly what happened. I'm sure it's in the officer's favor. They probably have been told to wait and see how they want to handle it. They know how bad this can get. These protester's will only except the officer's head on a platter. The news media is the worst.They should be reporting the news not expressing their own views. I feel bad for the parent's of Micheal Brown, the officer, and his family. Lives have been ruined.

 

[rickybobby]

If the locals march again tonight, to me that makes them culpable, as the police cannot really tell the troublemakers from the peaceful marchers, gets kind of scrambled.

I say again..........

 

[TLSnell1981]

No coverage? Then why was it the first thing I saw when I signed on tonight?

There was a brief mention earlier, immediately after the video was released...then more Ferguson. I stopped surfing the net for information, after stumbling upon the graphic photos. Guess, no one else is interested in the story?

 

[OceanAnnie]

There was a brief mention earlier, immediately after the video was released...then more Ferguson. I stopped surfing the net for information, after stumbling upon the graphic photos. Guess, no one else is interested in the story?

I hadn't heard about it. I am interested. I'm going to look for it.

ETA- Heartbreaking. I should have known. ISIS.

I have been listening to the news off and on today. Different outlets. I hadn't heard about it at all.

 

[Disneychick75]

There was a brief mention earlier, immediately after the video was released...then more Ferguson. I stopped surfing the net for information, after stumbling upon the graphic photos. Guess, no one else is interested in the story?

I have read about James Foley and it's incredibly sad. Bless his family.
There's not a whole lot else to say because I got into trouble for commenting on something about European politics 500 years ago so I'm not about to go anywhere near something from today.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

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They did back in 1992 and the mere fact they were willing to confront the mobs with arms stopped the looters in their tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzkBGQx3HAc

Don't get me wrong I would've been defending my business just as those in the video did. But in this situation where as you have a mob of black protesters shouting that a racist white cop shot an unarmed black teenager for no reason, it wouldn't have helped calm the situation for me as a white male to shoot at a black protester. I still would defend my property but in my previous post I was referring to a PP that quoted me asking how it would've helped.

 

[Disneychick75]

Don't get me wrong I would've been defending my business just as those in the video did. But in this situation where as you have a mob of black protesters shouting that a racist white cop shot an unarmed black teenager for no reason, it wouldn't have helped calm the situation for me as a white male to shoot at a black protester. I still would defend my property but in my previous post I was referring to a PP that quoted me asking how it would've helped.

A family whose beauty salon supply company was looted the first night have been standing outside of their business the past few nights with guns and the looters have stayed away. Not advocating doing this however, it is working for them.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I have read about James Foley and it's incredibly sad. Bless his family.
There's not a whole lot else to say because I got into trouble for commenting on something about European politics 500 years ago so I'm not about to go anywhere near something from today.

I'm looking forward to seeing the accomplishments of his life discussed. Also, the Time reporter, that is being held.

 

[olwyngdh]

HUH I don't get your point other than to just be nasty. Why can't someone post without reading the thread. The obviously know what is being discussed.

They have an idea of the topic, but not the conversation, and don't consider it important enough to find out what has been/ is being said before jumping in with a comment that uses a code phrase, "liberal media," that, just like the words "thug" and "murder" means that the poster's mind is made up and reality or facts don't matter.

All we know for facts is that:
1. Brown was hit 6 times by bullets fired by a policeman, and that he was facing the policeman when he was shot.
2. There was some sort of altercation involving the door of the police car.
3. The officer was treated for a swollen face.
4. Brown stole a carton of cigars and pushed the clerk from a convenience store.
5. The policeman did not know about this when the incident between him and Brown occured.
6. People are upset because Brown's body laid in the street for hours with what appears to be disregard for his body and for his family--we don't actually know why it was really there for that long.
7. The community in Ferguson is very upset and have protested, rioted, and looted, possibly at the instigation of outside sources.
8. No one knows what to do to break the spiral of violence that has overtaken both sides of the situation.

And half of that list may be speculation rather than fact because we aren't there, and no matter how many sources we read or view, we aren't getting all the facts laid out in a logical manner. We aren't even getting all the facts, nor should we be--we are not the judge nor the jury, we are simply armchair quarterbacks trying to make sense of a horrid situation. I, among many other on this thread, are trying to actually make sense of the situation and trying to reserve judgement when we don't have facts.

I don't know, maybe I was wrong and she just meant that "conservative" media isn't covering the situation in Ferguson, but that isn't my experience.

 

[livie1205]

My take: the cop had a orbital fracture on his face and may not have had all his vision, this guy had already been attacked in his car and the guy running back towards him had already hurt him. If brown had got to him and taken his taser or gun he may have not went home to his family and that is the choice he made at that moment.. Real life decision.
Will wait for more info before saying anything else.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Name one Gumbo.

He's probably talking about me. He'd be wrong though. I don't find the shooting of the guy with the knife questionable.

 

[robinb]

He's probably talking about me. He'd be wrong though. I don't find the shooting of the guy with the knife questionable.

Neither do I.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

He's probably talking about me. He'd be wrong though. I don't find the shooting of the guy with the knife questionable.

I doubt he was talking about you, you seem to be open to discussion and opposing views.

I know there was at least one person much earlier in the thread that said there was never a reason to use deadly force against an unarmed person because I remember talking about Mike Browns size with them. I could probably search my history but don't think it important enough to point anyone out. I've gotten the same feeling about a few posters but that was the only one I can think of that specifically said that no matter what happened an officer shooting an unarmed man is never justified.

"Many" may not have been the best choice of words but I think it's probably accurate. There are many people on both sides who have made up their mind about guilt or innocence who aren't about to change it no matter what any further evidence shows.

 

[Disneychick75]

Watching different feeds and actually heard crickets chirping. It's quiet tonight so far.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Watching different feeds and actually heard crickets chirping. It's quiet tonight so far.

First thought I had when reading your post was " calm before the storm". I fear things are going to get worst the day of the funeral and Al Sharpton giving the eulogy. I pray I am very wrong.

 

[Disneychick75]

First thought I had when reading your post was " calm before the storm". I fear things are going to get worst the day of the funeral and Al Sharpton giving the eulogy. I pray I am very wrong.

Plus, will the grand jury indict Wilson tomorrow or not? I hope you're wrong too.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Plus, will the grand jury indict Wilson tomorrow or not? I hope you're wrong too.

I keep going back and forth on whether I think they will. l think there is probably enough to justify an arrest but unless they have something we haven't seen (that can prove the officer wasn't in fear for his life) I don't think there is any chance for a conviction.

I said this the other day and I think it still holds true, this is a repeat of the Trayvon Martin case with different people. In cases like this it's all about risk of bodily harm and anytime you have injuries to the person who ultimately shot the other person it makes it very difficult to prove they weren't in fear for their life, that is really the difference between a guilty verdict and a not guilty verdict.

I think both the police and the protestors are acting much better tonight. The police aren't using the overwhelming force techniques from the last several days and the protestors seem to be much more organized and focused.