Ferguson No Fly Zone

[Gravekeeper]

Was exactly what everyone suspected it was for ( To prevent media coverage. )

Man, Freedom of Information Act requests are a bitch aren't they? -.-

Not that the entire situation wasn't already a total clusterfuck of terrible decision making. But one wonders just how many more it will take for there to be some sort of, you know, repercussions or something.

[HYHYBT]

"I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die of not surprised."

[EricKei]

But one wonders just how many more it will take for there to be some sort of, you know, repercussions or something.

Well, South Park's latest episode had a few things to say about Ferguson, with all of their usual subtlety (albeit as a one-scene joke). I wonder if that counts as a form of punishment?

[Kara_CS]

But, you know, the people of Ferguson are all "thugs" and "animals" and they all deserved it. Plus, the autopsy report completely vindicated the asshole who used excessive force on Michael Brown, despite the fact that the coroner said it didn't prove anything of the sort. Clearly, the problem is not within the wonderful Ferguson PD.

On a completely unrelated note, of 1.6 million people in 450 countries participating in today's Million Mask March, Ferguson clocked in with 18% of the global arrests made of protesters.

[Greenday]

But, you know, the people of Ferguson are all "thugs" and "animals" and they all deserved it. Plus, the autopsy report completely vindicated the asshole who used excessive force on Michael Brown, despite the fact that the coroner said it didn't prove anything of the sort. Clearly, the problem is not within the wonderful Ferguson PD.

On a completely unrelated note, of 1.6 million people in 450 countries participating in today's Million Mask March, Ferguson clocked in with 18% of the global arrests made of protesters.

There's no evidence of excessive force on Michael Brown. As more and more comes out, it seems like it's more and more true of what the cop said.

The Ferguson protests had a lot of violence in general so I'm not surprised that after excessive force by both sides in the original protests that tempers flared again.

Also, as far as what I can find on Google, there were five protesters arrested for trespassing into a private party. Considering there were only ten whole arrests that night (Protest News), I guess your 18% of global arrests figure grossly exaggerates things.

[Gravekeeper]

There's no evidence of excessive force on Michael Brown. As more and more comes out, it seems like it's more and more true of what the cop said.

Didn't we already cover this in the other thread? There's plenty of evidence of excessive force on Michael Brown: Multiple gunshot wounds. >.>

[Kara_CS]

Ah, right. Because being detained without formal charges doesn't count. But, as always, Ferguson PD acted with the utmost integrity.

[Greenday]

Didn't we already cover this in the other thread? There's plenty of evidence of excessive force on Michael Brown: Multiple gunshot wounds. >.>

Multiple gunshot wounds does not prove excessive force.

[Gravekeeper]

Multiple gunshot wounds does not prove excessive force.

......You can't be this obtuse, dude. I know you have a thing when it comes to cops. But come on. The cops shot that other guy who was brandishing a knife less times than Brown got shot and Brown was both unarmed and further away. I mean for fark sakes it caused the DoJ to announce it will perform an extensive review of the use of lethal force by police nationwide. >.>

[Greenday]

......You can't be this obtuse, dude. I know you have a thing when it comes to cops. But come on. The cops shot that other guy who was brandishing a knife less times than Brown got shot and Brown was both unarmed and further away. I mean for fark sakes it caused the DoJ to announce it will perform an extensive review of the use of lethal force by police nationwide. >.>

I'd announce the same thing too if I knew it'd help prevent riots from happening every time a cop shot someone in self-defense.

[Gravekeeper]

I'd announce the same thing too if I knew it'd help prevent riots from happening every time a cop shot someone in self-defense.

Yes. That's totally it. Its not that the DoJ is concerned about a seemingly unending series of dubious fatal encounters with police across the country. With a grossly disproportionate amount of those being against black people and minorities. Nor is the DoJ concerned with the Ferguson PD specifically and reviewing the last four years of its use of force.

Also, self defense? Once it Brown fled and Wilson perused it was a new ballgame. Wilson was also in possession of non-lethal force measures including pepper spray. Wilson testified he could not use his pepper spray initially due to the close quarters in the vehicle and his baton was "out of reach" as an explanation for why he felt he had to go for his gun first during the initial struggle. However, upon exiting the vehicle those two points are moot.

So how is it he was afraid for his life in the street in the open at a distance and had to use lethal force. But when struggling inside the vehicle he only went for lethal force as a last resort?

[Panacea]

Didn't we already cover this in the other thread? There's plenty of evidence of excessive force on Michael Brown: Multiple gunshot wounds. >.>

The number of gunshot wounds, while shocking to some, actually does not by itself say anything about excessive force. Because most shots miss (and most did in this case) police officers are trained to fire until the suspect goes down.

If Brown was charging Wilson, then shooting him may well have been warranted considering things didn't go well for Wilson until he got his gun in play.

[Gravekeeper]

The number of gunshot wounds, while shocking to some, actually does not by itself say anything about excessive force. Because most shots miss (and most did in this case) police officers are trained to fire until the suspect goes down.

If Brown was charging Wilson, then shooting him may well have been warranted considering things didn't go well for Wilson until he got his gun in play.

Multiple gunshot wounds in the body of an unarmed suspect is always cause for concern.

Wilson testified he could not use pepper spray because of the close quarters and that he could not use his baton because it was on his belt behind him. He testified that Brown simply attacked him out of nowhere when he parked his car. Due to be unable to use non-lethal force and due to Brown being "incredibly strong" he felt he had to draw his service weapon to defend himself. The struggle for the weapon occurred after Wilson drew and pointed it at Brown. 2 shots were fired. One hit Brown. Brown fled.

At this point, Wilson decided to pursue. Wilson testified he did not radio for back up because his chest radio got changed to the wrong setting during the struggle ( that's an eyebrow raiser on a side note ). He also testified that when he perused Brown he does not remember saying or yelling anything at Brown. Meaning Brown allegedly, after being shot once and fleeing, decided fuck it and turned around to charge an armed officer because ?. While Wilson, now free of the close quarters that prevented him from using non-lethal force, did not use said non-lethal force because ?.

According to Wilson's version of events this is basically suicide by cop and the reasons for it shall always remain a mystery because he put two rounds in Brown's head.

All this is, of course, ignoring the fact it took a grand jury hearing to get Wilson's side of the story. That the initial incident report that should have had his account was redacted and that the initial autopsy report which had part of Wilson's account was not released until FOIA requests forced the matter a few weeks ago. Giving Wilson and the Ferguson PD over 2 months to get their stories straight.

[Kara_CS]

Because most shots miss (and most did in this case) police officers are trained to fire until the suspect goes down.

No, that is not at all how police are trained in the use of firearms and it would be a scary fucking world if it was. Police are trained to use only the minimum amount of force necessary to gain compliance or neutralize a threat. They are also trained to only use lethal force as a last resort. It's harder to justify a use of force with each additional shot fired. And just like you said, "most shots miss," they are to use extreme caution discharging firearms in residential areas for that very reason.

[s_stabeler]

yeah, the way I interpret it, shooting brown DURING the close-quarters struggle in the car? probably justified, albeit regrettable. Shooting Brown while he was running away, even IF he turned around and charged Wilson? not justified, as he could, at that time, use the non-lethal options he had available.