The "What Are You Thinking About Right Now?" PIP

[RafSecret]

Whether it was intentional, or manslaughter, or homicide, the dude still killed a defenceless kid without any reasoning Didn't all or most of the witnesses say that Brown put his hands up? 

[ILUVAdrianaLima]

^ I get where you are coming from but the fact is he was no longer a kid, he was a young adult and a lot of the original evidence given by many at the scene was later found to be false. All I wish here is for everything to be done ACCORDING TO JUST LAWS and that communities comes together to build for a better tomorrow.

[alexandra23]

I agree with you 100%.  People simply aren't reading the facts of this case if they say they don't agree with the grand jury's decision.  The facts speak for themselves.

[Kevork89]

Obviously the jury felt that he should be freed based on all the evidence. This was a very important trial and for them to make the right decision than obviously there is much more to the story than what was seen and heard all over the news. So hopefully the people can just stay calm. Clearly this officer will have to live with this for the rest of his life. I do think there should be some form of punishment. More than just him resigning. I mean whether or not it was self defense he shot the young man six times.

[ILUVAdrianaLima]

^ Too late, multiple structure and vehicle fires

[Kevork89]

Yeah I've heard. I understand the frustration but the jury and trial are doing what they think is best by the law. Based on all evidence given. They won't take it lightly. People have a right to be upset and hurt but why resort to this? It just sets everything back and no change will be made. It's also annoying how every article I read is always race related. and riots and violence will just throw more fuel on the fire.

[alexandra23]

It's annoying how every article is race related, but the reason for that is people have made this an issue of race. That's really the only reason the incident made headlines in the first place. 

[ILUVAdrianaLima]

^^ Sadly some only want to see blood and only blood The racial dynamic in Ferguson is long and goes too deep to even state here but what they are doing now is only pushing their entire community back decades possibly All this over an officer who was potential trying to defend his own life over a VERY LARGE MAN who was very capable of severely injuring the officer or killing him. I wish race wouldn't be a factor but only the facts of the case that way justice can carry on its course.

[RafSecret]

Despite the evidence I believe it still doesn't justify why he shot some defenceless 6 times instead of using other precautions, because you first have to make sure someone actually intends to hurt you before you can retaliate, and make the other person aware that they could potentially get arrested if they don't comply with rules. He could have just warned them, nobody would have gotten hurt. I mean maybe it's because of the fact me and Kev live outside the US our justice system is definitely different, and if you get any evidence that you killed someone you basically get jailed no matter what. 

 

It unfortunately will always go back to a race issue because unfortunately with all the police things that occur to black people in the USA, they're always blamed for it and they always get the short end of the stick. The justice system never appears to work in their favour so it's only understandable they'd get angry 

[alexandra23]

Raf.....I respectfully disagree on almost everything you said. haha

 

 

Maybe the fact that you guys don't live in the US and aren't familiar with the laws here does make a difference.  I'm a third-year American law student, so I'm pretty familiar with how the justice system works.

[alexandra23]

That being said, though, you certainly aren't in the minority with your sentiment.  I mean, that's why there's rioting going on.

[Kevork89]

I am definitely not in agreeance with the man shooting him 6 times. I mean maybe shooting once would do the trick seeing as how he was shot I mean that should be enough right? I do think that the police officer should face something more than what he was given. But I also understand that the young man who was killed wasn't completely innocent. He and his friend did try and attack the officer while he was in his car. But yeah Raf and I live where violence is absolutely the last resort. Especially from a police officer. But truth is here in Aus and NZ we don't have to deal too much with stuff like this. Not that there aren't guns but police aren't as worried because in most cases people will never have a gun. So they don't have to necessarily worry about their lives when apprehending suspects. It's always tricky but everything else is added on top of this because of race.

[ILUVAdrianaLima]

^ Apparently after he was shot he kept charging at the officer.

 

@Rafa: there are many fact you don't know on the case but they will be releasing those soon so you understand the forensics of it all. And I'm almost certain he was given multiple warnings but the fact remains the evidence points towards him charging rather then fleeing when he was shot from the evidence already presented.

[alexandra23]

I mean, he did assault the police officer in the police car....and he was a huge man who had just committed a robbery....I think the officer was understandably afraid for his life. Michael Brown ignored each of the officer's warnings, continuing to charge at him after each warning.

 

I think race played no role in this, and to say it did is honestly more racist than objectively looking at the facts.  Giving him a break because he's black is racist.

 

Incidents like what happened to Michael Brown happen to white people all the time and they don't make national - let alone international - headlines.

[RafSecret]

Raf.....I respectfully disagree on almost everything you said. haha

Maybe the fact that you guys don't live in the US and aren't familiar with the laws here does make a difference.  I'm a third-year American law student, so I'm pretty familiar with how the justice system works.

Oh man I wanted to do law but after realising how empathetic I am it was definitely out the running (maybe my opinion is formed based on my empathy), but like Kev said, shooting someone is the last resort in both Australia and New Zealand. Officers here resort to different equipment (and typically if they get into a physical confrontation they're always stronger than the people they are trying to chase), and very rarely are guns carried or used, and when they are it is generally for serious situations such as drug raids. I'm not saying Brown was a saint because I don't condone him stealing, but considering there was 90 seconds between Wilson and Brown's face to face confrontation which somehow ended up getting someone killed is something that people in New Zealand would find absurd (based on the practices taken here). I am aware different countries act accordingly because of different practices, but no matter if you agree or disagree with the decision the jury put out today, a defenceless teenager getting hit by six bullets is incomprehensible. Based on the testimony given by the second police officer, Wilson was carrying mace at the time located on the left side of his belt, which means that the could have easily gotten that out, sprayed it and arrested him for further questioning. There's also said reports now that in fact the shooting did not take place at the lawful distance which was 35ft, but over 100ft.  

 

If Wilson wanted to arrest him, great, I'm not bothered by it. What I'm bothered by is someone unnecessarily died that day. I really don't see why it had to happen and that agitates me greatly.

[ILUVAdrianaLima]

^ Still a lot of facts to sort thru especially how the prosecutor went on about the case But the 6 gunshot wounds really irks me too, trust me on that Rafa

[CandleVixen]

Sad to say this.
Regardless of the Grand Jury outcome, some idiots wanted to riot.
And the Mob Rules. :yuckky:

[jj3]

I just read all your comments ... and following this case since the beginning ... i agree with the positions of dave ... The young man (no matter if he was black) was guilty has hell, like many videos put it in evidence... and knowing the laws, rules, and prerogatives of the policeman... i agree with the decision of the grand jury.

 

All these "riots" (and in France they are numerous) are just provocations and excuses for free violences... they are empty of idea. 

[PrettyDeadThings]

The sooner she dies the happier her family will be.

[ILUVAdrianaLima]

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow Muericans!