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@Espion: This!!!

.01% of grand juries result in no indictment. This is rare, and absurd. There were witnesses. The main person "quoted" as looking at the autopsy report and saying it looked like Brown was reaching for the gun came forward saying he was misquoted and did not believe that was the only conclusion. There is plenty of evidence suggesting Brown was over 100ft away from the Wilson, not 35.

Regardless of who you believe is right, there is no valid reason why this should not have resulted in a trial. That is what our legal process supposedly exists for.

This is a very sad day.

@blackbird: I'm confused as to why you added "black" into the list of reasons someone might be considered a threat.

The verdict doesn't surprise me. Neither does the shift in total focus now to the few acts of violence being committed amongst a huge crowd of people, instead of actually focusing on and addressing the deep-rooted, huge issues that have caused that many people to gather in one place for so many days.

@littlejoy: I completely agree!! They are. This is not what I'm saying. I'm responding to the statement that the situation escalated quickly because he was a threat, being a "350lb black man." Being a large, strong man can make someone a threat. Black SHOULDN'T be a part of that list, however.

@Applesandbananas: not all officers are racist, of course. But that doesn't mean racial profiling isn't a reality in law enforcement.

@littlejoy:
CHERRY / 162 POSTS
9 MINUTES AGO REPLY FLAG
@cait: Because black people in America are unfairly targeted by police every minute of every day.

I don't think that's a fair statement.

@Applesandbananas: It's called racial profiling. Look into the amount of black people who are incarcerated for certain crimes vs the number of white people incarcerated for the same crimes. I was making a generalization. In this case, I think race is VERY much a part of the equation, and I stand by my statement. (All of that is said without calling that officer racist.)

@littlejoy: I think this officer, and most, make the best decisions they can, in the split second they have, with the incomplete information available at that time. I don't think race was an issue until the media got wind of the situation and sensationalized it.

This is all just so sad. There are no winners. I feel so badly for Michael's family who must live without him. I hate that the officer and his family will never know a normal life again. It's all awful.

I will say, though, that I think police-blaming/shaming isn't good for anyone. I don't think blind trust is helpful, but an outright distrust, disrespect, and disregard of the people who are sworn to protect us only creates more scenarios just like this one. Yes, our police officers should have boundaries and should be held to a certain standard and protocol, but the "f- the police" attitude certainly isn't going to make a better, more peaceful world.

I wait with bated breath to see what the grand jury decides about Eric Garner. Hopefully they do the right thing, not holding my breath though.

@blackbird: I'm confused.. She shouldn't be considered a threat because she's not a 350 black man? So all 350 pound black men are threats to the police? Or me? Is this real?

@Blackbird: Michael Brown was 292 lbs not 350 lbs. He was still a big boy, but as a person always trying to lose weight 58 pounds is a big difference.

I am not surprised by the verdict. I'm disappointed that the indictment decision was met with burning & looting as I think there are more constructive ways to channel frustration. I agree with the family's call for police wearing body cameras; in cities where these have been implemented citizens' complaints of excessive force have significantly decreased.

Aside from the Ferguson outcome my next statement still rings true. I am still fearful that an encounter with the police could mean a fatal outcome for my 5' 10" 150 lb father; 6' 3" 190 lb brother, and 6' 0" 220 lb husband. Regardless of size black men are perceived as scary, violent criminals in this country ETA by police and fellow citizens.

@Applesandbananas: honestly I think you are putting police on a pedestal they have not shown they deserve to be on. They are humans who make the same mistakes and do the same shitty things regular old citizens do.

To not address the race aspect of situations like this and denying it exists is a huge part of the problem.

You don't have to be klan member to be racist. Racial profiling can be quite subtle. White people do it all the time without even realizing! I know I have. The only way to change it is to recognize it, be honest with ourselves about our thinking and work to change it!!!!!

@catomd00: I don't think it's a pedestal, I just don't believe they wake up everyday and go out and kill black men for the hell of it.

I honestly haven't followed this particular case, but I wanted to point out that there are plenty of cases of police shooting white people when it was unnecessary. They also shoot dogs a lot for not much reason. You just don't hear about it as much because it doesn't escalate into a racial issue.

@blackbird: I stayed up way too late watching them burn the city to the ground. And watched looters on live tv. Completely absurd.

Thankfully there isn't much going on in my city.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: There was an old white man shot to death right here in my town, when he reached for his CANE out of his truck. The officer assumed the cane was a weapon and fired before he knew for sure.

@blackbird: That was absolutely a racist statement and it's also true. Black men are perceived as threats more than anyone else in this country, 350 lbs or not. It's wrong & unjust & the fact that you think it's okay, that a different standard should be applied because he happened to be born black, is beyond disappointing.

I don't know the facts .& even after the decision I still don't understand them. I wish we had a way to investigate the facts fully & for both sides to make their case.

Oh wait. We do. It's called a damn TRIAL.

@Kemma: @T.H.O.U.: I suspect it is a little of both. I have seen a fair amount of research that shows that the color of your skin dictates difference consequences for the same actions. For example, the rate of pot usage is higher among white men, but the rate of drug convictions for pot is much, much higher among blacks. I've also seen some studies that show that black boys are statistically much more likely to be suspended than white boys for unclearly defined behavior (like insubordination) in kindergarten. Out of school disciplinary action at such a young age is often a precursor for problems in the future, thus the "school-to-prison pipeline."