No indictment: Open thread to discuss Ferguson

I don’t feel like I have anything useful to say, but I don’t feel like I can just keep my mouth shut, either.

That said, this is a fucking shameful disgrace and I don’t know what to do or say about it, or if I should even say anything at all. I haven’t felt this ashamed about anything in…ever.

For any folks in Toronto, there’s a peaceful protest being planned at the US embassy tomorrow evening:

https://www.facebook.com/events/318420711695491/

If you live in the Boston area, there’s a protest scheduled in front of the Boston Police B2 headquarters in Dudley square at 7pm, Tuesday 11/25. Please consider coming and supporting Mike Brown’s family as well as the many other victims of police violence.
I know there are other events planned in other cities, but I’m not aware of the details.

^^^Everything Deoridhe said.

What I find sadder than anything, Michael, is that absolutely everyone seems to have been expecting this, even though statistically only 1 in 11,000 grand juries choose NOT to indict.

That really says everything, I think.

I’m not surprised, but I’m still pissed off. If somebody tries to tell me we live in a post racial society or that minorities/woman/gays/anybody who’s not the “norm” need to stop complaining then I’ll throw my computer out the window in a fit of rage.

For anyone tracking dudes mansplaining or making dumb #Ferguson jokes, here’s a two-fer: http://imgur.com/4bCAjhb

I can’t possibly know what it’s like to be black in America, but I am still deeply, deeply ashamed of our “system of justice”.

I’ve seen calls for people to not stand during the pledge of allegiance in schools tomorrow, and to wear black. I can’t do the first (Too old for that), but I will be wearing black tomorrow.

What happened today is yet another travesty. However, Darren Wilson CAN be brought up on these charges again. Simply because the grand jury didn’t indict him, it doesn’t mean that we can’t try again and hope for justice this time.

Here’s a few petitions:

https://www.change.org/p/robert-p-mcculloch-prosecute-officer-darren-wilson-for-the-unlawful-shooting-that-killed-18-year-old-michael-brown

http://iam.colorofchange.org/petitions/governor-nixon-remove-mcculloch-and-appoint-a-special-prosecutor-in-the-case-against-darren-wilson-1

There is nothing on this Earth that would keep me from getting this guy locked up where he belongs. He doesn’t deserve to be sitting with a happy newlywed family on Thanksgiving with 400K in his bank account like he’s a goddamned “hero”. He deserves to be locked up with the rest of the murderers.

As for help for those people who actually deserve it, I’ve found these links via tumblr:

Bail and legal fund for the protesters:
http://antistatestl.noblogs.org/post/2014/08/11/bail-and-legal-fund-for-those-arrested-during-ferguson-anti-police-demonstrations/

Articles on what’s going on:
http://journolist.tumblr.com/post/94563772619/michael-brown-remembered-as-a-gentle-giant-st

10 ways you can help the people of Ferguson:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/19/how-to-help-ferguson_n_5688541.html

I’ve also been informed that you can donate to Operation Help or Hush.

Been blasting Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and various other anti-racism bands ever since I heard. I am mad, sad, disappointed, and frustrated all at once. This is just shit. 🙁

One thing I find annoying about the media coverage of what’s happening is how the CNN anchors keep going on about the burning businesses. On one level, yes, it’s too bad for the people who own those businesses. On another: boo fucking hoo, I don’t care about property while black people’s lives are being treated as expendable. This country would probably be even worse without the threat of this kind of violence; it often seems like that’s the only thing that serves as a motor for substantial change.

@Deoridhe: Basically, the “tolerant my intolerance!” excuse used by MRAs and so many other bigots, except with many more guns. -_-

Ugh, you can bet the MRAs are loving this.

There’s something very bizarre about the idea of people who are ordered to enforce the law, but are protected from the consequences when they break it.
I’m hardly worldly enough to fully grasp something like this, but such injustice is sadly predictable, given the KINDS of people who are most targeted by police app ads and to whom the idea of making people obey them has a definite appeal. It’s the same way with politicians, they are elected not because they have good qualities but because they have qualities/resources that make them get elected more than others. While some legitimately want to keep order and help resolve crap, there’s always the others, people attracted to the force because it’s an avenue to power and control over others that they couldn’t have otherwise. And when you add the power to inflict violence at no cost to themselves, it’s like giving petíte jackbooters the keys to the candy store.

I think the protests are, if anything, showing remarkable restraint given what’s being done to them. If there’s any luck in the world I hope the national legal system stops defaming itaelf and corrects this gross abuse of power and station.