aNewDomain — It took 25 days. And now a grand jury in Missouri has decided that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson will not have to face charges for the shooting and killing of an unarmed 18-year-old in August 2014. Activists who hoped that the grand jury might “bring justice” for the victim, Michael Brown, are intensely discouraged and disappointed. As predicted, chaos returned in full force to the beleaguered streets of Ferguson, Mo, the site of the killing and so much violent protest just three months ago.
Below is a picture from an Associated Press photojournalist, who reported early Tuesday a.m. that, just an hour after news broke of the grand jury’s decision, violence was ramping up. (See live feed, below). It is likely to outpace the looting, burning and destruction that followed the August shootings, local officials said. St. Louis County police chief Jon Belmar told reporters this morning that he needs a force of 10,000 police officers “to prevent folks … (from) … destroying a community.”
Scroll beyond the photo below to read the full grand jury verdict, including Darren Wilson’s testimony. Also, scroll just below the picture to watch the disturbing compilation of Twitter Vine videos (caution: violence, language, uncut images and audio) the St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted before daybreak.
Photo: Associated Press
Here is a compilation of Twitter Vine videos provided the St. Louis Post Dispatch on Tuesday a.m. Warning: Violence, language
The St. Louis County Prosecutors Office now has released the full transcript of the grand jury case. Darren Wilson’s testimony can be found on page 119, readable in place below. Scroll below the fold for reaction from world and national leaders, human rights activists and netizens via Twitter, Google+ and other social nets.
Photo: CBS Google+ Stream at 6 a.m. CST Nov. 25, 2014
In August, aNewDomain political commentator Ted Rall wrote a column that provoked intense reaction. Read Ted Rall: Why Violence Is Working in Ferguson here.
The #michaelbrown and #ferguson hashtags rose to No. 1 and 2 trending levels on Twitter just a half hour after news reports about the grand jury decision came out early Tuesday a.m.
For aNewDomain, I’m Gina Smith.
