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Civil Rights Groups Call for Systemic Change in U.S. Justice System
Afro.com ^ | Nov. 27, 2014 | Zenitha Prince

Posted on 11/27/2014 5:53:20 PM PST by Graybeard58

In the wake of the Nov. 24 decision by a Missouri grand jury to not press charges against the White officer responsible for killing an unarmed African-American teen, a coalition of civil groups presented a unified front in its denouncement of the decision and its call for systemic changes to the American justice system.

“We are profoundly disappointed with the miscarriage of justice that occurred last night,” Barbara Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said during a press call on Nov. 25.

Although the Ferguson grand jury did not indict Darren Wilson, she added, “There was an indictment of our unjust criminal justice system…there was an indictment of the Ferguson Police Department’s conduct of this investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown; an indictment of Prosecutor [Robert] McCulloch, for the way in which he has conducted this entire investigation, including the decision to have Officer Wilson testify before the grand jury; and an indictment of law enforcement in Missouri which has been disgraceful in its over-militarization [and] its rampant disregard for our constitutional rights.”

Arnwine voiced the shared concerns of civil rights leaders over the way McCulloch handled the presentation of the grand jury’s decision—the lateness of the press conference, his vilification of pro-Brown witnesses and the overall combative tone.

“We found that Mr. McCulloch’s presentation of the decision was incendiary and inflammatory, that was designed to inflame…and provoke an angry response from the Ferguson community,” Arnwine said.

The group shared several short-term and long-term strategies for moving forward, beginning by calling on the Department of Justice to continue its investigations into Darren Wilson and the Ferguson Police Department.

Cornell Brooks, president and CEO of the NAACP, said the organization was “deeply disappointed” with the outcome and announced the organization’s own plans to effect

(Excerpt) Read more at afro.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: butthurt
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To: Iron Munro
We can no longer peacefully coexist with these a&&holes.

When black men riot, cities burn.

When white men riot, continents burn.

41 posted on 11/27/2014 9:04:32 PM PST by Lazamataz (Proudly Deciding Female Criminal Guilt By How Hot They Are Since 1999 !)
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To: Graybeard58
It seems to me that the Grand Jury worked just fine. The real injustice has been to Officer Wilson and the responsible people who live in Ferguson that had their businesses burned, lives destroyed, and livelihood taken away.

Lets consider Michael Brown. If he had stepped out of the road, and done what he was told, he'd be alive today, Wilson would still be serving the community, and the tragedies from the riots would not have happened.

Ferguson has a population of 20,000. It is surrounded by adjacent municipalities of St. Louis County. The St. Louis Metropolitan Area has a population of around 3,000,000, with only about 300,000 in St. Louis City. Racial makeup for the Greater St. Louis Area is around 49% black.

The county has 90 incorporated areas(towns) and 10 unincorporated areas. Violence could easily spread quickly from Ferguson to these areas or St. Louis City due to good transportation system. It's a target rich environment - not just a small town with a few businesses and homes to guard.

So a few hundred thugs rioted, pillaged, looted, and burned for hours. Do you think that any of them did that to their own property? These thugs care nothing for the other people of Ferguson, black or white.

Where is the justice for the thousands of Ferguson residents? Even if the thugs are caught, arrested, and found guilty at trial, they likely don't have any assets such that the business owners could sue and rebuild, and riots are not generally covered by insurance.

The media, Sharpton, Holder, Administration, and the Governor of Missouri either stoked this outrage, or failed to stop it.

What kind of justice is that for the community? - they didn't shoot anybody. It was a violation of Officer Wilson's rights too. Not one time, from any source did I ever hear an allegedly anything.

Tried in the Press, and declared guilty from the beginning with virtually no evidence other than some wild eyed accusations that were later discredited or called into question. And the press is largely continuing to paint him guilty - an insult to some courageous citizens serving on the Grand Jury. There was no probable cause.

Wilson's life has been threatened, he still faces a civil rights investigation railroad, and will never be able to serve the community as an LEO again. He's lost his job, and the community has lost his service.

So there has been a whole heap of injustice, and some things darn sure need to change, but it's not really the justice system. It's the jerks I mentioned before that need to change: Media, Sharpton, Holder, Administration - stop trying to railroad people, just because you don't like them or what they stand for, stop trying to stir up trouble, and stop pressuring and suing the states and their governors.

And last, but not least, Nixon needs to grow a pair and tell these SOBs to go pound sand, and do his job to protect the communities in the state of Missouri.

42 posted on 11/27/2014 9:07:44 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: GOPJ

Joining what losers? I hate rioters , looters , and thugs.

If the police are not going to protect my business, might as well get outta dodge.


43 posted on 11/27/2014 9:16:53 PM PST by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
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To: greeneyes; Sooth2222

~~~~and riots are not generally covered by insurance.~~~~

Compliments of Sooth2222:

“Most small businesses have what’s known as a businessowners policy (BOP), and BOPs generally cover riot-caused property damage,” according to Insurance Information Institute spokesman Michael Barry.

The National Underwriter’s Commercial Property Coverage Guide defines a riot as “any tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons mutually assisting one another in execution of a common purpose by the unlawful use of force and violence resulting in property damage of any kind.”

(The Los Angeles riots of 1992 caused $775 million in insured losses, according to the Insurance Information Institute.)

Brent Butler, government affairs director for the Missouri Insurance Coalition, also said most commercial policies cover riots. Merchandise stolen — not just property damage — would also typically be covered, he said.


44 posted on 11/27/2014 9:38:58 PM PST by Graybeard58 ( O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Ps 34:3)
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To: Graybeard58
Thanks for the info. I hope they have the commercial coverage. Someone I was talking to told me that it wasn't covered, and I thought they knew what they were talking about. I should have double checked it.

They'll have their deductible, and future raised premiums - probably in the rest of Missouri too. Just a little more misery fanned by the terrible trio Obama, Holder, and Sharpton the screeching bellows.

45 posted on 11/27/2014 10:23:42 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Graybeard58

Systematic change in US justice system DEF: all people of color will be allowed to skirt existing “white priviledged laws” all crimes will be considered crimes comitted under the pressures of social justice (being black) thereby making them null and void


46 posted on 11/28/2014 3:07:41 AM PST by ronnie raygun (Empty head empty suit = arrogant little bastard)
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To: ronnie raygun

The soft bigotry of low expectations. If Bill Clinton had said that they might listen. But it was George W. Bush.


47 posted on 11/28/2014 3:08:43 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: greeneyes

In looking at the proposed changes, I noticed that none of them had to do with the grand jury process. I am not sure what they think could be done differently. In fact, I think under normal circumstances, most prosecutors looking at this case would have concluded that there was insufficient grounds for indictment without even going to the grand jury. One minor clarification. St. Louis city is 49% black; the greater metropolitan area is 18% black.


48 posted on 11/28/2014 4:31:04 AM PST by rwa265
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To: onyx

FOAD..nice one that’s new to me. Being somewhat arcane, me, myself personally is inclined to say ESGH ... Eat S**t or Go Hungry!


49 posted on 11/28/2014 4:49:22 AM PST by Huaynero
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To: FreedomStar3028

the injustice expounded is that if there is no trial, lawyers don’t get paid


50 posted on 11/28/2014 4:59:05 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc.;+12, 73, ..... Obama is public enemy #1)
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To: rwa265

Yes, I read it that way. It was pretty clearly self defense. The Grand Jury was the only way he could try to placate the mob. Outcome was the same though - feral yutes out to loot.

Thanks for that correction. It was the city numbers. Even though I proofed the post, I missed that. Apologies to all.


51 posted on 11/28/2014 1:44:30 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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