I have been carefully studying the media coverage of the Ferguson Riots. It is a crying shame to see what the people are doing to their own community and the burning and looting of businesses and burning and destruction of police cars and other vehicles and property. The rage and insanity of the Ferguson rioters makes any “sane” person react in a less than supportive way towards the rioters.
After hearing some of the evidence presented to the Grand Jury,that did not indict Officer Wilson,and after hearing Officer Wilson’s interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC news this morning, I can understand the fear and actions he took to defend himself, and appreciate the decision of the Grand Jury. Micheal Brown was reportedly 6 ft. 6 inches tall and weighed over 300 pounds. He had just robbed a convenience store and was caught on video tape grabbing the store clerk by the neck and pushing him away from him, then he walked out of the door with his accomplice. Officer Wilson stated he recognized Michael Brown as a suspect to the convenience store robbery and drove up near him and stopped the car. When Michael Brown approached the car Officer Wilson told him to back away, then Michael Brown reached into the window of the police car and grabbed Officer Wilson’s hand as he drew his service revolver. Michael Brown tried to take it away from him and turn it on Officer Wilson. Wilson did what any well trained police officer would do in that situation and fired the gun, and then shot Michael Brown in self defense. The Grand Jury found him not guilty and did not indict him. Almost every Defense witness who testified, their statements were disqualified as being false or contradictory to forensic evidence and the coroner’s report and to other witnesses.
I have only praise for the members of the Grand Jury’s courageous decision in-spite of the great pressure from the public , the U.S Atty General’s office and the undue and added personal pressure from Barack Obama. I am sorry for Michael Brown’s family however, like many millions of parents who have criminal children,regardless of their race, they must face their failures and the bad decisions of their children that resulted in their child’s death, injury or incarceration. Michael Brown by all media accounts was on the wrong life track and after his videoed theft of the convenience store and assault on the store clerk, no one could consider him an innocent, nice, young man. He was an angry, aggressive 18 year old male, who had no common sense, and an obvious death wish for him to assault a police officer and try to turn his own gun on him. Regardless that Michael Brown was Black, anyone regardless of race, under the same circumstances could have expected the same actions taken against them by Officer Wilson, or any other police officer in line of duty. Michael Brown physically threatened Officer Wilson and Wilson’s testimony obviously was believed by everyone on the Grand Jury after 100 days of deliberation, all evidence, and 70 witnesses.
The riots around the country in support of Michael Brown may have some merit and justification regarding other individual cases of police brutality and bringing national attention to a national issue of racism however, the timidity of the New York and Boston police, who allowed the illegal blocking of main avenues and the Lincoln Tunnel by angry rioters, without massive arrests or serious altercations is a farce. The non violent protests of Occupy Wall Street protesters were met with pepper spray, beatings and unlawful arrests of thousands of protesters, who had permits for their marches and were completely non violent except when beaten by the New York Police.
Whatever happens in Ferguson should remain in Ferguson. The Governor of Missouri I believe spoke for the vast majority of people in his state and throughout the country, when he said he would come down hard on these rioters and looters and that this kind of destruction of property and assault on law enforcement officers can not and will not be allowed.
Racial inequality in America once was a serious problem and issue and in some places may still be however, the election of Barack Obama has proven that the majority of Americans have put aside their racial differences and believe America can and must be a country that embraces all races and nationalities. What sane Americans of all races agree upon is that senseless violence and anarchy , looting and the destruction of cities and communities by criminals , thugs and thieves of any race is wrong and must be prevented and stopped, by responsible law enforcement and responsible judicial decisions in all American courtrooms.
L.A. Steel
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