11-24-2014, 09:47 PM
The fears of nationwide race riots associated with the Zimmerman verdict were always overblown, IMO.
With Ferguson, I think the potential for less peaceful protests and more wide-spread riots is greater. This one is not about a citizen shooting another citizen and getting away with it (in some people's opinions) based on 12 other citizens' verdict/decision.
The fact that Ferguson instead involves a police officer shooting an unarmed teen makes a Grand Jury decision not to indict potentially more explosive, in my opinion. Blacks from many different cities across the US feel that they're discriminated against by police officers; lack of an indictment will very likely reinforce that perception and ignite anger.
Zimmerman made a case for self defense and there was no witness to contradict or confirm his version of events. Conversely, it's hard for me to imagine Officer Wilson having made a case for self defense when the witness accounts from unrelated parties consistently state that Brown was surrendering and/or had his hands in the air while Wilson was shooting at him, over and over. But, neither I nor anyone in the general public has heard all of the witnesses and evidence that the Grand Jury heard.
I don't know which way it's gonna go tonight. If the Grand Jury decided not to indict, I hope like hell that the announcement to the press includes clear rationale/evidence behind how that decision was reached and the number of protestors who turn to rioting is small and easily containable.
With Ferguson, I think the potential for less peaceful protests and more wide-spread riots is greater. This one is not about a citizen shooting another citizen and getting away with it (in some people's opinions) based on 12 other citizens' verdict/decision.
The fact that Ferguson instead involves a police officer shooting an unarmed teen makes a Grand Jury decision not to indict potentially more explosive, in my opinion. Blacks from many different cities across the US feel that they're discriminated against by police officers; lack of an indictment will very likely reinforce that perception and ignite anger.
Zimmerman made a case for self defense and there was no witness to contradict or confirm his version of events. Conversely, it's hard for me to imagine Officer Wilson having made a case for self defense when the witness accounts from unrelated parties consistently state that Brown was surrendering and/or had his hands in the air while Wilson was shooting at him, over and over. But, neither I nor anyone in the general public has heard all of the witnesses and evidence that the Grand Jury heard.
I don't know which way it's gonna go tonight. If the Grand Jury decided not to indict, I hope like hell that the announcement to the press includes clear rationale/evidence behind how that decision was reached and the number of protestors who turn to rioting is small and easily containable.