Riots in Missouri - Part 2

[Sithborg]

Darren Wilson is a GOOD cop who acted in self-defense, UNTIL PROVEN otherwise by the justice system, which last night decided that he was not guilty of much.

That isn't what happened. No jury determined Wilson's guilt or innocence. What was determined was whether there was enough evidence to go to trial. Which given the very, very sketchy nature of how Ferguson PD was handling the case and the earlier protests, makes the ruling very suspicious.

On the news channel I was watching, there was someone who stated that the DA and police work hand and hand with each other. I don't blame anyone with being suspicious of the results.

This is just a tragedy. I'm not entirely sure whether what Wilson did is right or wrong. I know I would prefer my brother to act on the side of stopping to act a threat. Neither did Brown deserve to die. And the disturbing trends of young black men being shot is definitely a recipe for discontent. It is a pity that anger turned to riots last night.

 

[Schlosser85]

Are the rioters going to demand government assistance to clean up their mess like they did last time?

 

[Dr. Evil]

the outrage does show how united the African American community is.

If the next victim was an Asian American, then the Asian American community from his ethnicity would be probably outraged at the shooting. The other Asian American communities would feel sadness and sympathy for his family but would not protest, I would think.

 

[Slushy]

 

[Schlosser85]

Well, come to think of, looting is a pretty appropriate way to honor Michael Brown.

 

[Victarion]

Well, come to think of, looting is a pretty appropriate way to honor Michael Brown.

Well, if they want to loot, riot, and all, they should be looting and rioting at the court house and police station.

 

[Schlosser85]

Well, if they want to loot, riot, and all, they should be looting and rioting at the court house and police station.

Does anyone seriously believe the rioters care about Michael Brown?

This is an excuse to loot and burn. If they cared about the case, or about "injustice", or about their community, they'd be targeting the courthouse and police station.

But they're not. They're looting stores and businesses, putting people out of business who had nothing to do with what happened.

 

[Victarion]

Does anyone seriously believe the rioters care about Michael Brown?

This is an excuse to loot and burn. If they cared about the case, or about "injustice", or about their community, they'd be targeting the courthouse and police station.

But they're not. They're looting stores and businesses, putting people out of business who had nothing to do with what happened.

Exactly my point, sir.

 

[Howlett]

This is heartbreaking.

I hope every one of the rioters and looters gets arrested. Every single one.

But all black on black crimes committed get arrested, so I'm sure they'll have to pay to fix up her place.

There's no reason to try to reason or guilt rioters and looters into feeling bad about what they did, because they don't care and never will. Their skin color doesn't even factor into it for these scumbags. They are opportunists.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Are the rioters going to demand government assistance to clean up their mess like they did last time?

What??

 

[Schlosser85]

After the last riots, some threatened to riot again if the government didn't clean up the destruction.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Apparently there's a sentiment from Ferguson residents that Ferguson was "allowed to burn".

It's strange, how there was a heavy militarized police force for less people during peaceful protesting...but on the night they announced this, when the Governor made to decision to declare a state of emergency weeks before and there was a countdown...to not even have a police presence for blocks in Ferguson...there's some really bad decisions that were made, and it make sense to people try and make sense of them.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

After the last riots, some threatened to riot again if the government didn't clean up the destruction.

Last night's riots? Some of the rioters threatened to riot again if the government didn't come?

That sounds really weird. Considering how many people were arrested last night, and the (finally) call on the National Guard...it seems unlikely that anyone could follow through on that threat.

 

[DeadPresident]

I've seen the criticism that always goes to mental illness and how "nice" and "quiet" they're described. The criticism seems to be fair to me, when you consider how much worse those crimes ultimately are.

It's probably the media coverage/culture where I'm from then. I'm sure in the states the notion that school shootings are a white thing will be kept far from the media.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

But all black on black crimes committed get arrested, so I'm sure they'll have to pay to fix up her place.

There's no reason to try to reason or guilt rioters and looters into feeling bad about what they did, because they don't care and never will. Their skin color doesn't even factor into it for these scumbags. They are opportunists.

Unfortunately, I think she's probably out of business. The destruction of businesses, even when something like natural disasters, can devastate it enough to put it out of business. There's word that ALOT of people have been put out of business because of what happened last night.

There probably wouldn't be a way to find the people responsible for destroying her place of business because of all the chaos. Maybe if she can find the capital to rebuild...but I'd imagine that like most other small businesses, a hit like that would just be way too much to come back from. It's really a sad thing to see.

 

[craigdbfan]

Apparently there's a sentiment from Ferguson residents that Ferguson was "allowed to burn".

It's strange, how there was a heavy militarized police force for less people during peaceful protesting...but on the night they announced this, when the Governor made to decision to declare a state of emergency weeks before and there was a countdown...to not even have a police presence for blocks in Ferguson...there's some really bad decisions that were made, and it make sense to people try and make sense of them.

They're damned if they do and they're damned in they don't. Last time heavily militarized police came out in force the media was pretty much acting as if the SS resurrected.

Nothing was allowed to burn, they're just tired of the incessant hyper sensitive crying that happens every time the police tries to do their job in Fergustan.

 

[DeadPresident]

Apparently there's a sentiment from Ferguson residents that Ferguson was "allowed to burn".

It's strange, how there was a heavy militarized police force for less people during peaceful protesting...but on the night they announced this, when the Governor made to decision to declare a state of emergency weeks before and there was a countdown...to not even have a police presence for blocks in Ferguson...there's some really bad decisions that were made, and it make sense to people try and make sense of them.

I don't think it's the case for civil society, but the USA is structurally still an extremely racist country. I read a previous post (possibly yours?) that said that Ferguson has essentially 2/3's black majority residents. My opinion; they didn't role out major security because they knew the crimes would influence black residents. You can be quite sure things wouldn't have been allowed to escalate like this in Beverley Hills.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

It's probably the media coverage/culture where I'm from then. I'm sure in the states the notion that school shootings are a white thing will be kept far from the media.

Well, I've gone to school in the Bronx where there were enough issues with guns that the school needed to have police present and metal detectors and a mandatory pat down to enter the school...and still there were stabbings and a shooting having happened while I went there outside the school.

FYI, adding metal detectors and police pat downs to enter a school...adds about an hour extra of entering the school, so if I needed to be in school at 9 AM, had to be there at 8 AM to get in on time or wind up getting tossed inside the auditorium for "being late" to school...even if it was the NYPD that held me up longer and kept me in the hallways by the time class started.

That whole thing really sucked.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

They're damned if they do and they're damned in they don't. Last time heavily militarized police came out in force the media was pretty much acting as if the SS resurrected.

Nothing was allowed to burn, they're just tired of the incessant hyper sensitive crying that happens every time the police tries to do their job in Fergustan.

I don't know about that. If the Governor felt so assured that hell was going to break loose that he felt it necessary to declare a state of emergency, and there was a countdown to the release of the grand jury decision (all mistakes that gave people who wanted to riot and loot a timeline to work with)...I think it's fair to say that the Police should have been ready.

Hell, it's even fair to say they were outmatched and outnumbered. Which then leads to how come the National Guard, who were ready, weren't deployed?

I wonder if the police as a whole would be angry for the conditions. They were put in a tough situation by the officials of the town and state.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I don't think it's the case for civil society, but the USA is structurally still an extremely racist country. I read a previous post (possibly yours?) that said that Ferguson has essentially 2/3's black majority residents. My opinion; they didn't role out major security because they knew the crimes would influence black residents. You can be quite sure things wouldn't have been allowed to escalate like this in Beverley Hills.

Wasn't my post, but that is accurate. The majority of residents in Ferguson are black.

And I hear what you're saying. I...don't think it's the case that the police force was allocated in such a manner. I would certainly hope not.

But, I have seen that case made by a reporter who was present there last night, lamenting how certain blocks were filled with police, but other blocks were completely empty giving opportunity to bedlam...and he seemed convinced that the residents in those neighborhoods affected the allocation of the police.

I...remain unconvinced on that. And would really hope it isn't, because sacrificing some of the blocks for others seems like an unnecessary decision.

 

[dodgers2213]

It's really strange hearing some of Wilson's testimony. He said he was afraid that a "third punch" could kill him. He was afraid that a punch would kill him? A punch? Seems odd when you consider that both men were the same height. How is someone who is afraid like that allowed to be a police officer? Seems really...pathetic.

Seems like people know very little about how lethal an unarmed person can be. This came up during the Trayvon situation and here we are again.

Now, is it rare for a single punch to kill someone? Why, yes. But it is possible...
[YT]VKU6lusdPWk[/YT]

Just to show it is possible. Now let's factor in that Michael Brown was a GIANT....

Spoiler

Punches can be deadly...rarely from the first one but multiple punches--and people don't often stop with one strike. Now getting attacked by such a huge MAN is going to be a very dangerous, potentially life threatening situation. Period. Deny it all you want, keep being ignorant about the reality, but it's the truth.
All it takes is to lose consciousness or to suffer a concussion thus limiting your ability to defend yourself. An officer has weapons that can be used against him so obviously any of the aforementioned injuries can lead to the officer's death. Let's also not forget the potential to suffer long term damage.
People are killed every year by the hundreds from unarmed assaults. "Unarmed teen" or "unarmed" in general are meaningless statements used only to stir up the ignorant into a frenzy

Attack an officer, or anyone armed, and whatever happens afterward is your fault

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Brown and Wilson are the same height, so he didn't tower over Wilson. Wilson also said he took a punch from Brown, two or so I believe is what he testified, and his face seemed fine. If he'd had more facial damage, I think calling Brown's fists lethal weapons would be more believable.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

All it takes is one punch in the temple to die.

Or throat.

 

[dodgers2213]

Okay....Way to ignore everything else but even if they are at the same height, Brown weighed anywhere between 260 to closer to 300 lbs. Depending where you look. I see 289

Officer Wilson weighs 210

Brown has a weight advantage of 50-80+ lbs....that is not something you ignore. Any one at that height and carrying that much weight can be extremely dangerous in a physical confrontation. You would be incredibly naive to think otherwise. Again, watch the tape of the robbery he committed, Brown is a definite physical threat

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Hey, Chris. Watch the behind the scenes of your favorite Batman movie.

KFM practitioners position their arms like that for a reason.