Did we riot over a criminal?

[n david]

When Capt Ron Johnson was given command of Ferguson, he stated his approach was that, "we're in this together." It was also claimed that he understood urban policing.

So much for that!

Oh sure, the first day he was put in charge, he had a nice show of walking with the protestors down the street.

But after that, the nights were still violent. And last night was so bad, the Governor called in the National Guard to help shut down the rioting.

“Peace and justice took a very different turn after dark,” Johnson said. “Molotov cocktails were thrown, there were shootings, looting, vandalism and other acts of violence that clearly appear not to have been spontaneous, but premeditated criminal acts.”

Johnson said this had nothing to do with civil disobedience, but was designed to damage property, hurt people and get police to respond.

“The situation first started to deteriorate with the shooting of a civilian on W. Florissant and Ferguson Avenues at approximately 8:25 p.m.,” he said.

Police responded to West Florissant and Ferguson and got the shooting victim to safety, but then the violence ramped up and police became the target.

“That was followed by shots being fired on officers, a number of Molotov cocktails being thrown, and then the looting,” Johnson said.

As night fell in Ferguson, another peaceful protest quickly deteriorated after marchers pushed toward one end of a street and authorities — who said they were responding to reports of gunfire, looting, vandalism and protesters who hurled Molotov cocktails — pushed them back by repeatedly firing tear gas. The streets were empty well before a state-imposed curfew took effect at midnight.

Source Link

"Based on the conditions, I had no alternative but to elevate the level of response," said Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, who is command in Ferguson.

Source Link

Capt. Johnson makes an absurd statement the press conference announcing the arrival of the National Guard, "When this is over," he told the crowd, "I'm going to go in my son's room. My black son, who wears his pants sagging, who wears his hat cocked to the side, got tattoos on his arms, but that's my baby."

"We all need to thank the Browns for Michael. Because Michael's going to make it better for our sons to be better black men."

Seriously? A guy who committed a strong-arm robbery just prior to his death -- that guy is going to make it better for their sons to be better black men?

SMH If MB and Trayvon are the examples for black kids now...

[n david]

Video link

Video of Capt Johnson making remarks.

[Truthseeker]

Yeah, the capt. Should be relieved of his duties there.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

No one knows what really happened yet. When it comes to race, it's hard for people be objective.

Am I not being objective with this post or any other post on this subject?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by n david

If the store owner would have had a gun and shot MB while being assaulted, there wouldn't be a week of riots.

Exactly. Now many witnesses are coming forward saying Brown rushed the cop but that won't make any difference either. Race trumps everything.Had Brown wrestled that gun away then the cop would have had a bullet in his head.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Exactly. Now many witnesses are coming forward saying Brown rushed the cop but that won't make any difference either. Race trumps everything.Had Brown wrestled that gun away then the cop would have had a bullet in his head.

Many?

How many?

[n david]

While some of those arrested for stealing are from Ferguson, a large number have addresses listed in Illinois or in Texas.

“It’s like looting tourism,” an officer commented as he showed the reports. He asked not to be named. “It’s like they are spending their gas money to come down here and steal.”

Among those who have arrived are self-described young activists, some of whom participated in the Occupy movement. Many of them are white and have been showing protesters how to assemble homemade gas masks — essentially surgical masks fortified with duct tape.

I'm a firm believer in First Amendment rights. I believe people should have the freedom to protest whenever and wherever they want. I'm against these so-called First Amendment zones, like the one the Feds tried imposing in Nevada near the Bundy ranch; and I'm against the curfews which were imposed in Ferguson.

I don't like the LEOs dressed in fatigues and strapped with assault rifles and gas masks. I don't like seeing the photos and videos of the MRAPs driving down the streets, or the fiery arc of tear gas canisters.

Unfortunately, most of the peaceful protestors, who are residents of Ferguson or the surrounding communities, have been overshadowed by the thugs and anarchists which have traveled into the community with the sole purpose of causing destruction and mayhem.

So what's to be done with the lawless intruders? Obviously you cannot allow businesses in Ferguson to be burned or looted. But the presence of these militarized police officers have served to only stoke the fires of anarchy.

I don't have the answers, and I'm not sure anyone there does either.

Source Link

[n david]

Reading through Twitter this morning. It's scary what happened in Ferguson overnight.

Several reporters were hit with tear gas, including MSNBC's Chris Hayes and others. Now, I don't agree with most of MSNBC or Chris Hayes, but I'm appalled at what I'm reading from him and others on Twitter.

They were targeted and had tear gas shot at them. Amnesty International personnel were kicked out of the area. I've read several accounts where the police demanded the media leave the area and go to a site over a mile away. And when they didn't comply, they were tear gassed and fired on.

One reporter tweeted that residents were claiming "bombs" were falling from the sky, and said he too saw large flashes of light and heard loud booms. Could be concussion grenades though.

Several tweets claim the National Guard was shooting live rounds. Canfield was shut down and multiple tweets claimed the NG warned people that anyone attempting to come near would be shot at. "Shoot to kill" were the alleged words being used by the NG last night.

I'm against these morons from the occupy movement, and other thugs looking to cause mayhem. But when the gov starts attacking the press, it crosses a line.

As much as I hate it, there has to be another Nevada standoff in order to force these jackbooted militarized troops to back down.

This is headed towards a Kent State-type tragedy if it continues.

[n david]

@amnesty: US can't tell other countries to improve their records on policing and peaceful assembly if it won't clean up its own human rights record

@Mobute: MSNBC's staff getting tear gassed. @jaketapper on CNN calling for a medic as a photographer horks up on the ground. Peace is our profession.

@Mobute: "I can tell you that .... well. That IS tear gas, and that frickin' stings." - @chrislhayes right now

@WesleyLowery: "They dropping bombs out the sky" - resident running past me. Can't confirm that at all, but hearing huge booms/seeing flashes

@WesleyLowery: As I work my way down side streets toward W. Florissant, unmistakable sound of gunfire. Then big booms

@voxdotcom: LRADs, sound weapons so piercing they cause physical pain, are being used tonight in #Ferguson

@YeezieTaughtMe: National guard announced that they're shooting to kill.

@YeezieTaughtMe: Yes, the guard person said it. Not over a loud speaker but in the presence of protesters. They will shoot to kill.

@WesleyLowery: Air smells like gun powder. Not like tear gas. Gun powder

@WesleyLowery: Huge armored trucks and officers with weapons drawn advancing down Canfield

@WesleyLowery: "Clear the area, clear it now!" From loud speaker
"Get the .... out of here" - officers shouting

[KeptByTheWord]

This is a very terrible situation. Wrong from both sides it seems. Will be continuing to pray.