Darren Wilson - the police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown - has not been indicted in a final jury decision. The hot topic that's been sweeping the entire nation has been put into overdrive when protesters have taken matters into their own hands. In Missouri, Ferguson, riots erupted just minutes after the decision was announced in the court house on live television. Thousands of people - not just citizens of Ferguson, but those from around the country - were standing outside the Ferguson courthouse on November 24th in support of indicting Wilson.
But how serious was the conflict that erupted between police and protesters? Barely at all.
The unfortunate reality is that protesters did much more damage to the small businesses and community than they did to the police force. In total, there were nearly 80 arrests the first night, according to CNN. Protesters burned down 12 buildings, destroyed a police car and cursed off and screamed at riot police. Gov. Jay Nixon of Ferguson said that he would increase the number of national guards in the St. Louis area due to the destruction from the unrest of protesters.
President Barack Obama made an emergency announcement the night of the protests and said that he had no sympathy for those who use the trial as an excuse for violence and destruction. I agree with him. The entire point of "hands up, don't shoot" is to peacefully protesting against the police and justice system, not violently. Not only that, but what is the use of destroying the very town that you're trying to protect? The angry riots deliberately looted and destroyed the liquor store in which Michael Brown was trying to rob just before he was shot by Darren Wilson.
What kind of impression is this sending to the rest of the country? People are protesting in Chicago, New York and other major cities in support of Michael Brown. But what with the militarization of the police force already, this is only going to further their agenda. What direction do we want this to go as a people and public? We need to rethink the way we're approaching this entire ordeal. The point of peaceful protest is for them to remain peaceful, not deadly.
But how serious was the conflict that erupted between police and protesters? Barely at all.
The unfortunate reality is that protesters did much more damage to the small businesses and community than they did to the police force. In total, there were nearly 80 arrests the first night, according to CNN. Protesters burned down 12 buildings, destroyed a police car and cursed off and screamed at riot police. Gov. Jay Nixon of Ferguson said that he would increase the number of national guards in the St. Louis area due to the destruction from the unrest of protesters.
President Barack Obama made an emergency announcement the night of the protests and said that he had no sympathy for those who use the trial as an excuse for violence and destruction. I agree with him. The entire point of "hands up, don't shoot" is to peacefully protesting against the police and justice system, not violently. Not only that, but what is the use of destroying the very town that you're trying to protect? The angry riots deliberately looted and destroyed the liquor store in which Michael Brown was trying to rob just before he was shot by Darren Wilson.
What kind of impression is this sending to the rest of the country? People are protesting in Chicago, New York and other major cities in support of Michael Brown. But what with the militarization of the police force already, this is only going to further their agenda. What direction do we want this to go as a people and public? We need to rethink the way we're approaching this entire ordeal. The point of peaceful protest is for them to remain peaceful, not deadly.