Updates From Ferguson, Missouri
Here's the latest from Ferguson, Missouri.
The attorneys for Michael Brown's parents are blaming the prosecutors for a grand jury decision not to indict the police officer who killed the teen. Anthony Gray claims the testimony of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson didn't match the evidence, but that prosecutors didn't challenge him. He pointed out that he and others had warned the decision would hinge on how the prosecution treated the case. He was joined today by Michael Brown's father and Reverend Al Sharpton, who called for peaceful protests and boycotts instead of violence.
The Reverend Al Sharpton is calling for peaceful protests to express frustration over a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer who killed Michael Brown. Addressing the media today, Sharpton said those who reacted to last night's announcement with violence have soiled the memory of the 18 year old Brown. He instead suggested economic boycotts and peaceful protests would be more effective.
On top of surveying damage and dealing with the threat of more violence, police in Ferguson, Missouri are now investigating a murder after the discovery of a body this morning. Investigators say a man was found dead inside a car close to the apartment complex where 18 year old Michael Brown was shot back in August. The victim is described only as a black man in his 20s.
A former Ferguson mayor is calling on Governor Nixon to resign, saying he wasn't prepared when chaos broke out after last night's grand jury announcement. Brian Fletcher says Nixon should have sent more National Guard members to protect the St. Louis suburb. He says the governor stated that they were preparing for the worst, and quote, "The worst came, and they weren't prepared." After considering evidence for the better part of three months, grand jurors yesterday decided not to charge Officer Darren Wilson in connection with the August death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Almost immediately after the decision was announced, protesters began looting, destroying police cars, setting buildings ablaze and firing guns. The former mayor said Nixon, quote, "failed the City of Ferguson and he failed the state of Missouri, and he should resign."
Reaction to the decision not to indict the officer who shot a teenager in Ferguson, Missouri last summer is dominating social media. Twitter reports more than three-point-five-million tweets mentioning the decision were posted Monday night and that an average of just over 26-thousand tweets per minute were sent between 9:00 pm and 11:15 pm Eastern time. Twitter has yet to disclose its per second tweet tally to see if the Ferguson decision set a new Twitter record. (Metro Networks Inc)