Missouri governor Jay Nixon has
criticized police for releasing CCTV footage which apparently shows shooting
victim Michael Brown stealing. He said the release of the footage nearly a week after a policeman shot Mr
Brown in Ferguson, St Louis, "appeared to cast aspersions" on the dead man.
"It made emotions raw," Mr Nixon told US broadcaster ABC on Sunday. US Attorney General Eric Holder ordered a federal post-mortem on the
black teenager's body.
Riot police used tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse protesters overnight as
they defied a curfew in Ferguson. The curfew is being extended for a second day,
beginning at midnight and running for five hours.
The killing of Brown on August 9th has
inflamed racial tensions in the largely black suburb.
It caused dismay across the US, with peaceful nationwide
vigils held on Thursday night, while images of riot police deployed in an
American city suburb have made headlines worldwide.
The video "appeared to cast aspersions on a young man that was gunned down in the street", said Governor Nixon. On Saturday, he declared the curfew after looters targeted stores in Ferguson overnight. Mr Brown's family condemned the release of CCTV footage by local police.
The video "appeared to cast aspersions on a young man that was gunned down in the street", said Governor Nixon. On Saturday, he declared the curfew after looters targeted stores in Ferguson overnight. Mr Brown's family condemned the release of CCTV footage by local police.
Seven arrests were made as police used smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse a
crowd of about 150 in Ferguson, after being called to the scene of a disturbance
at a restaurant after the curfew started.
A police car reportedly came under fire and a person was hurt in an
apparently unrelated shooting in the same area. As police were nearing the restaurant, a man with a handgun went into the
street but ran away, AP news agency reports.
Protesters in Ferguson, St Louis, on Saturday night
Protesters in Ferguson, St Louis, on Saturday night
Protesters in Ferguson, St Louis, on Saturday night
Police in Ferguson, St Louis, on Saturday night
Someone also shot at a police car but it was not clear if it had been
hit. In the same area, a person was shot and critically wounded and police were
searching for the attacker. Demonstrators complained that the curfew would make matters worse.
Jayson Ross, who was leading the protesters toward the police before tear gas
was fired, was quoted as saying by AP: "They got guns. We got guns. We are
ready."
Local politician Antonio French, who was with the protesters, tweeted
to say: "Too many young men talking about being ready to die
tonight."
The US justice department is investigating the shooting of Mr Brown, with 40
FBI agents dispatched to Ferguson to gather information. The justice department said on Sunday that Mr Holder had ordered a federal
post-mortem examination at the request of Mr Brown's family, in addition to a
Missouri state autopsy.
Michael Brown had recently graduated from high
school. His family said their son was not "perfect"
A preliminary autopsy by the St Louis County Medical Examiner's office on the
day after Mr Brown's death found he had been shot, police said, without
disclosing how many times. Earlier, the lawyer for the dead teenager's family, Anthony Gray, announced
that it had hired one of America's most famous forensic pathologists, Michael
Baden, to conduct an independent examination. Mr Baden, 80, has worked on investigations into the deaths of such public
figures as President John F Kennedy, the punk star Sid Vicious and the family of
the last Russian emperor, Tsar Nicholas II, according to a profile
on Fox News, where he works as a TV host.
Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson revealed on Friday that the officer who
shot Mr Brown was Darren Wilson, a six-year police veteran with no previous
complaints against him. Mr Wilson has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting. The policeman had reportedly stopped the teenager for walking in the street,
disrupting traffic.
The governor was correct in criticizing the police for releasing the tape of Michael Brown . When Michael was gunned down in the streets, the cop had no idea a store was robbed . I may be wrong , but I think the taped was released to take the heat off the cop that shot and kill Michael .
ReplyDeleteSaid cop is in hiding with him family , the young man had his hands in the air .
The thinking here is that the cop (Darren Wilson)was a pure racist , my thoughts exactly .
I was at Starhooks reading about R. Williams and came over here to see if you had posted anything, I was too early , so I came back today and you had two.
No there is no difference from the 60s to now , just different people , I remember it so well .
Thank you for keeping up inform , now to keep an eye on Witchy over at Starhooks .
Ardis Whittin
PIC,
ReplyDeleteI laughed so hard at you ... I said I have some websites that she/ he needed ... I will answer her on Dear Maxy this week as we usually do . I have no idea who she is or how to get in touch .
Luv PIC
I think you are absolutely right Ardis. I believe that is exactly why the tape was released. I don't think it had the desired effect though. It has just made the people of Ferguson much angrier.
ReplyDeleteThere have been enough of these racially based cases for us to recognize one when we see it. And there were witnesses.
I hope they throw the book at the cop to make an example of him but I somehow doubt that will happen.
Very sad what happened to Robin. He was very loved, like an old friend.
Thanks for stopping by
Genie
I know that PIC. Hahahaha! I didn't think you got in touch with her personally. I figured you would do it the usual way. I am just happy you have some info for her.
ReplyDeleteHave yourself a great night and sweet dreams
Luv PIC