How does vandalism and looting accomplish anything???

[The Mystery Machine]

Look at what happened though when they released the convenience store robbery video.

IMO, police didn't want to release a lot of information because it helped them to weed out truthful witnesses and liars based on their evidence.

I watched the protests on different live streams/ u streams until last weekend.

That still does not justify withholding information in my book. Should have laid their cards on the table right away considering the climate of Ferguson.

No matter the "situation", citizens were asking what happened and they refused to answer.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

That still does not justify withholding information in my book. Should have laid their cards on the table right away considering the climate of Ferguson.

No matter the "situation", citizens were asking what happened and they refused to answer.

Agree that should has been done, BUT I also agree it wouldn't have mattered as far as the looters, rioters, and even many of the well-meaning protesters are concerned.

In their minds, Brown was unarmed & Wilson was white. And that's all they care to know.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Agree that should has been done, BUT I also agree it wouldn't have mattered as far as the looters, rioters, and even many of the well-meaning protesters are concerned.

In their minds, Brown was unarmed & Wilson was white. And that's all they care to know.

But the police and the media added fuel to the fire by harping on a one-sided story.

It's a mess. It's been a mess since day 1. It could of and should of been handled much differently.

The media tried the policeman in the court of opinion. That's a dangerous thing to do. One of these days they are going to get sued for it.

Put the facts out even handedly or not at all. Let the courts sort it out.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Agree that should has been done, BUT I also agree it wouldn't have mattered as far as the looters, rioters, and even many of the well-meaning protesters are concerned.

In their minds, Brown was unarmed & Wilson was white. And that's all they care to know.

When I posted my "dirt on the street" post back a few pages, I had that "the gun went off in the car" as part of the "dirt". So people had to know what happened as well.

Bottom line, as citizens of the planet earth, the police should have released the information as to what happened in a timely manner. It ticks me off.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

After watching the way this played out over the past couple of months and the way some have reacted, especially after the shooting that took place in St. Louis where the black man shot at the off duty officer first before being shot and killed himself. It wouldn't have mattered when or what info was released, they wanted wilsons head on a spike.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

After watching the way this played out over the past couple of months and the way some have reacted, especially after the shooting that took place in St. Louis where the black man shot at the off duty officer first before being shot and killed himself. It wouldn't have mattered when or what info was released, they wanted wilsons head on a spike.

Despite the fact that they wanted his head "on a spike", the information about the shooting should have been released to the public sooner.

There is no excuse for that imo.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Despite the fact that they wanted his head "on a spike", the information about the shooting should have been released to the public sooner.

There is no excuse for that imo.

How long does it take to positively ID someone's blood on a weapon? I honestly don't know - is that an overnight thing, days, or weeks?

 

[rickybobby]

Google "Ferguson protesters protest at Rams Game". I will not provide a link as it is extremely profane, even the shirts worn by the protesters.
At one time, some protesters were holding signs saying "I am Michael Brown".
If his activities were similar to theirs, it make a case for clearing the officer.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Despite the fact that they wanted his head "on a spike", the information about the shooting should have been released to the public sooner.

There is no excuse for that imo.

Evidence is often withheld.

I don't see how protestors demanding evidence that vindicates Mike Brown would have been resolved with evidence that tells the opposite.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

Despite the fact that they wanted his head "on a spike", the information about the shooting should have been released to the public sooner.

There is no excuse for that imo.

I'll be honest and admit I know very little about official protocol when it comes to investigations, but I do know that just by watching the nightly news it's fairly common for them to withhold evidence from the public. There wasn't even time given for an investigation to happen, they started protesting and rioting immediately, before any information could have been released or withheld.

 

[Geoff_M]

The St. Louis Dispatch a few days ago had an interesting interview with a grand jury witness that added a view new perspective:

A stream of eyewitnesses has been testifying in secret before a grand jury considering whether to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown near the Canfield Green apartments in Ferguson.

One Canfield resident — who said he saw the killing of Brown from start to finish and talked to the grand jury recently — has given the Post-Dispatch an account with some key differences from previous public statements from other witnesses.

Among the recollections of the witness, who agreed to an interview on the condition that his name not be used, were:

• After an initial scuffle in the car, the officer did not fire until Brown turned back toward him.

• Brown put his arms out to his sides but never raised his hands high.

• Brown staggered toward Wilson despite commands to stop.

• The two were about 20 to 25 feet apart when the last shots were fired.

Now, lest you think the witness is merely trying to come to the aid of Darren Wilson, he also added this:

“He was 20 to 25 feet from officer, and after he started staggering, he (Wilson) let off four more rounds. As he was firing those last rounds, Michael was on his way down. We were thinking, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, brother, stop, stop.’ He was already on his way down when he fired those last shots.”

The witness said Wilson didn’t have to kill Brown. “It went from zero to 100 like that, in the blink of an eye. ... What transpired to us, in my eyesight, was murder. Down outright murder.”

While I agree with the Dispatch story that this witness's cannot be taken automatically was 100% accurate, it certainly shows that "what happened" may not be as cut and dry as some of the protesters want to think it is.

 

[minniebeth]

The Mystery Machine~ a little OT, but still relevant...
My DD is interested in looking at SLU as part of her college search. Can you give a little info of what's going on there with the demonstrations on the campus from a local's perspective?

 

[pooh4evr]

The Mystery Machine~ a little OT, but still relevant...
My DD is interested in looking at SLU as part of her college search. Can you give a little info of what's going on there with the demonstrations on the campus from a local's perspective?

Not to Hijack from Mystery Machine-

There were some protesters who marched to and through the campus. Not many. They stood and chanted, trying to get the students to join in, some did most watched and got mad because it was the week of mid term tests and they were trying to study. SLU and Ferguson aren't part of the same neighborhood, nore do they touch- they are about 15-20 minutes away from each other. Slu is downtown while Ferguson is in "North County" (north St Louis county) There have been a few demonstrations at the court building and office of the county prosecutor, those have been in the Clayton area which is not near SLU either.

AS I type who really know what will happen next. There has been a steady stream of new info the last few days including some witness and the officer's account of the altercation. Things will get worse before it is all over, based on what is being released. Protesters are not happy and are calling for new action. A week or so ago (Ferguson October events) protesters were going from Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart through out the STL metro area, and the suburbs. I hope things stay calm, but some of the things people are saying on twitter and in other writings are frightening. I am afraid for the people of Ferguson when the grand jury decision comes out, if there are no charges filed. It is going to be a war zone.

 

[JoeA]

... if there are no charges filed. It is going to be a war zone.

Yup. Gonna get really ugly very quickly.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

Not to Hijack from Mystery Machine-

There were some protesters who marched to and through the campus. Not many. They stood and chanted, trying to get the students to join in, some did most watched and got mad because it was the week of mid term tests and they were trying to study. SLU and Ferguson aren't part of the same neighborhood, nore do they touch- they are about 15-20 minutes away from each other. Slu is downtown while Ferguson is in "North County" (north St Louis county) There have been a few demonstrations at the court building and office of the county prosecutor, those have been in the Clayton area which is not near SLU either.

AS I type who really know what will happen next. There has been a steady stream of new info the last few days including some witness and the officer's account of the altercation. Things will get worse before it is all over, based on what is being released. Protesters are not happy and are calling for new action. A week or so ago (Ferguson October events) protesters were going from Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart through out the STL metro area, and the suburbs. I hope things stay calm, but some of the things people are saying on twitter and in other writings are frightening. I am afraid for the people of Ferguson when the grand jury decision comes out, if there are no charges filed. It is going to be a war zone.

To your last comment. I hope this isn't true, but if it is I'd be getting prepared if your not already. It sounds paranoid but truthfully if the desire is their with some to start riots, I would have a bag packed, some food set aside(in case I needed to hunker down), and I'd have a firearm or 2 on hand with ammo.

 

[pat fan]

I am afraid for the people of Ferguson when the grand jury decision comes out, if there are no charges filed. It is going to be a war zone.

And it doesn't matter what the facts are??? I just don't get this....guess I'm no smarter now than a million pages ago with my first post. I just do not get that kind of thinking.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

With stupid stuff like this happening every single day in response to it:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_141024f2-8384-5e06-92a8-49e7c05c5703.html

As St Louisian I am dreading the grand jury verdict.

 

[pooh4evr]

And it doesn't matter what the facts are??? I just don't get this....guess I'm no smarter now than a million pages ago with my first post. I just do not get that kind of thinking.

Apparently not- many people commenting on the news stories on facebook and twitter are refusing to believe the forensic evidence. They believe it is a police cover up. Nevermind the 3 separate autopsies with similar results, evidence in the police car, and on the clothing of the officer, and witness accounts. The protesters want to believe the narrative that is rogue police officer randomly stopped these guys, instigated a fight and then started shooting when they were running away eventually killing Michael Brown execution style. The newly released evidence goes against almost all of the original story the "friend" told. Who has admitted he lied. Other people are calling for "taking our justice out in the streets" "open season " and other awful threats if the grand jury does not do what they want. Alot of people here hope they wait to release anything until the first bad ice/snowstorm of the winter in order to minimize the unrest.

 

[Disneychick75]

STL Today had their medical experts analyze the official autopsy and it backs Officer Wilson:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_e98a4ce0-c284-57c9-9882-3fb7df75fef6.html

The Washington Post states "Evidence supports officer’s account of shooting in Ferguson"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...38c7b4-5964-11e4-bd61-346aee66ba29_story.html

Yet in the same article:
"Benjamin L. Crump, a lawyer for the Brown family, said Brown’s family and supporters will not be persuaded by the autopsy report or eyewitness statements that back Wilson’s account of the incident." The article also doesn't mention that in order for Crump to be able to file a civil suit for the family, there has to be an arrest.

IMO, they're leaking bits and pieces to prepare the community for a "No True Bill" which means no indictment.

While passions will be inflamed, they cannot arrest an innocent man just to make people happy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And it doesn't matter what the facts are??? I just don't get this....guess I'm no smarter now than a million pages ago with my first post. I just do not get that kind of thinking.

It never was about the facts. It was about "justice". Justice = Darren Wilson arrested and convicted. Public hanging would be an added bonus.

Evidence that conflicts with that outcome means that justice was not served.