The Ferguson, Missouri thread

[Eurell]

So selection bias then? Why is it permissible to ignore testimony that Brown was shot in cold blood but okay to listen to evidence corroborating the officer's account?

It's not. That's their point I believe. Don't just assume he is guilty/racist or completely innocent before they can finish the investigation. He very may will be the most racist murderer in the world, but wait until we know.

[Qalbert]

arresting him, or at the very least "putting in protective custody" would have enabled the name release a lot earlier, and really helped de-escalate things

[Wulfgang]

How we'd cover Ferguson if it happened in another country

This is amazing, particularly the last part:

In Moscow, Kremlin planners were said to be preparing for a possible military intervention should political instability spread to the nearby oil-producing region of Texas.

[NynJa]

No one wants to die over some cigarillos. No one has the audacity to try and charge an officer unless they no longer want to live on this earth anymore.

1-How many times have people been killed (via murder, suicide, or both) over religious reasons, over a fictional character they believe lives up in the sky and rules all?
2-You've just said that someone who charges at an officer is subjecting themselves to being killed.


Arent cops supposed to write up a report every time they discharge their firearm? Has no one gotten their hands on this report?

[archibaldcrane]

If you arrest him, you can only hold him for 48 hours before you have to either charge him with murder or let him go, right?

[notorious bum]

These fuckers are using aged tear gas from the cold war era? WTF

John Horne ‏@JohnHorneUK 1h

Police in #Ferguson must explain why they're using *very* expired tear gas. Great work by @sabzbrach & @caulkthewagon http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/2...e-cold-war-era …

[archibaldcrane]

2-You've just said that someone who charges at an officer is subjecting themselves to being killed.

Is anyone arguing this?

[NynJa]

Is anyone arguing this?

cue everyones "expert witness testimonial" saying Brown was running away.

[kuronosan]

Err we don't know what he was doing.

[Ksandra]

arresting him, or at the very least "putting in protective custody" would have enabled the name release a lot earlier, and really helped de-escalate things

yeah I agree. I think protective custody would have been the smartest move/term to use. Or say he is "detained" or something. Anything to show the guy isn't taking a trip to disneyland or some shit.

[Enkidu]

So selection bias then? Why is it permissible to ignore testimony that Brown was shot in cold blood but okay to listen to evidence corroborating the officer's account?

I only see people ignoring the testimony that he was charging the cop, I don't see anyone ignoring the testimony that he was surrendering...

The point is that as of now, in the public, there is no evidence to suggest either is more likely. That a cops story matches an on-the-scene testimony is pretty significant though. The DA has to weigh the evidence, maybe send it to a grand jury, not just charge someone because it'll make people happy.

[notorious bum]

Don Lemon getting that imbedded journalist status now

AM ‏@peaceful_birdie 1h

Capt. Ron Johnson exclusively invites CNN's Don Lemon and colleague to tag along with him today. #Ferguson


To make-up for that mockery of support, yesterday:

jessica Care moore ‏@jessicaCaremoor 8m

On my way to #ferguson #justiceformikebrown #talibkweli Rosa Clemente #dreamdefenders

[Abandon]

unless dude was on the most spectacular of cocaine or crack, 6 bullets to stop a kid from running at you is a bit much, particularly 2 headshots. something something center mass something

[Sho]

1-How many times have people been killed (via murder, suicide, or both) over religious reasons, over a fictional character they believe lives up in the sky and rules all?
2-You've just said that someone who charges at an officer is subjecting themselves to being killed.


Arent cops supposed to write up a report every time they discharge their firearm? Has no one gotten their hands on this report?

1 -- This does not apply to Brown. You're using an obnoxious example (strawman even) to try and label Brown as someone who was not in his right mind.

2 -- I didn't say this in the matter you are implying. It's pretty obvious that this kid DID NOT WANT TO DIE. He was surrendering himself in the good faith that the cop would also stop shooting in his direction and potentially kill him. This is very different from a man who is at once fleeing a cop, then suddenly turning around to try and charge the officer who has his arm drawn and taking shots at him. As I just said recently, no one on this earth is brazen enough like that unless they have a death wish -- of which this person did not.


They are. Even so, they are supposed to write a report specifically when they use lethal force as well. They are also supposed to check the suspect in question for firearms and also to see if he's deceased. As far as checking the latter two things, he did not do it at all as far as one eyewitnesses account who was filming Wilson as soon as he killed Brown.

[Penthesilea]

If you arrest him, you can only hold him for 48 hours before you have to either charge him with murder or let him go, right?

Depends on the state law, but 48-72 hours sounds right and there's obviously no statute of limitations on charging him with a crime. If you arrest him and release him with no charges but after the investigation charge him that's fine.

[Sho]

To make-up for that mockery of support, yesterday:

jessica Care moore ‏@jessicaCaremoor 8m

On my way to #ferguson #justiceformikebrown #talibkweli Rosa Clemente #dreamdefenders

This pisses me off right here. Bitch isn't down for the cause at all.

[notorious bum]

If they didn't let Darren go take the fam for a little R&R then they wouldn't be given the opportunity to fire off all those old tear gas canisters collecting dust or rehearse for the new Command and Conquer game coming out later for white people.

[Qalbert]

interesting take I saw on twitter

“ You realize that everything the police are doing in Ferguson is carefully calculated, right? They’re purposely turning peaceful protests into riots. They’re purposely committing violence to incite violence. From saying ‘We won’t be answering 911 calls,’ which is a very clever way to set themselves up to be able to say, ‘We were afraid for our safety - any call could really be an ambush, our lives were in danger’ right down to the camouflage and the military tanks and wearing more body armor than a soldier in a war zone. Its exactly why they’re going for a media blackout - yet allowing certain photos through - they WANT you to see their tanks. They want you to see their riot gear. They WANT you to see a war-zone. They’re trying to sell the world the idea that this community is inherently and constantly a source of violence and turmoil - they want you to think that they [the police] are being attacked daily in a place so vicious they need full body armor. You know why? Because then, at the end of the day, you might just be able to believe the story they’re going to spin. They’re going to tell you that this (white) officer goes to work in this war zone every day - that he spends every working moment in constant fear for his life. They’re going to tell you that Michael Brown attacked this officer. And then they’re going to bring up everything that has happened in the aftermath and try to use it to convince you that he shot that little boy because he was afraid for his life. They’re setting up a defense. You mark my words, they’re trying to set up a defense. ”

although I think it gives the police a lot more credit for planning/knowing what they're doing than they deserve

[notorious bum]

This pisses me off right here. Bitch isn't down for the cause at all.

Kweli?

[Salodin]

1 -- This does not apply to Brown. You're using an obnoxious example (strawman even) to try and label Brown as someone who was not in his right mind.

2 -- I didn't say this in the matter you are implying. It's pretty obvious that this kid DID NOT WANT TO DIE. He was surrendering himself in the good faith that the cop would also stop shooting in his direction and potentially kill him. This is very different from a man who is at once fleeing a cop, then suddenly turning around to try and charge the officer who has his arm drawn and taking shots at him. As I just said recently, no one on this earth is brazen enough like that unless they have a death wish -- of which this person did not.


They are. Even so, they are supposed to write a report specifically when they use lethal force as well. They are also supposed to check the suspect in question for firearms and also to see if he's deceased. As far as checking the latter two things, he did not do it at all as far as one eyewitnesses account who was filming Wilson as soon as he killed Brown.

You make a lot of assumptions with nothing official to back it up other then an autopsy that says he either surrendered or was running at the cop. Why not wait to see how the investigation concludes?

At this point I don't even want the other two autopsies as much as I want to know if the gun was discharged in the cop car during the tussle. That alone will tell much.