Racial Disparity In Ferguson

In the Ferguson, Missouri case involving a white police officer (Darren Wilson) shooting an unarmed African American teenager (Michael Brown), the worldwide media immediately claimed that the officer shot Michael Brown for no reason besides the color of his skin. Many rumors and assumptions spread like wildfire after white police officer Darren Wilson was found innocent by a judge of having purpose to shoot Brown.

August 9, 2014 Michael Brown, a 18- year old black man was shot and killed, brutally at the hands of police officer Darren Wilson. Brown was leaving the gas station when he caught the attention of Wilson, who was supposed to be responding to another call. He thought Brown looked suspicious because he was a big, black “intimidating” man. Wilson “claimed” Brown was reaching for a gun so he fired twelve unnecessary shots at Brown while his hands were up. It turns out that Brown was not in possession of a weapon. Darren Wilson made up this allegation to make it seem like self defense, and to make Brown seem at fault for the shooting taking place. When Wilson went to trial the court found him not guilty. White police officers are not beingg held accountable so these police shootings are becoming more brutal and frequent. The Mike Brown

Beginning in late summer, this country became bombarded with stories in the news about police officers involved in some types of controversy. The controversy that started it all was an incident that happened in Ferguson, Missouri. Since August, there has been much discussion and public debate over whether a police officer’s use of deadly force against an unarmed teenager was justified. On August 9, 2014 a young man named Michael Brown was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson after he was stopped for walking in the middle of the street. Was the shooting of an unarmed teenager in Missouri an example of police using excessive force? Who decides what force is recommended or when it becomes excessive? To determine both these questions, we first must define what constitutes specific circumstances as excessive force. Officer Darren Wilson was not guilty of using excessive or lethal force if he felt his safety or the safety of others were in danger or if Michael Brown had surrendered peacefully and without resisting arrest.

Racial injustice against people of colour is an immense, ongoing issue that has not only targeted lives but has also taken many innocent lives. In America, these racial divisions date back to the days of slavery, where black people were denied of their basic human rights because of discrimination. In present day, some individuals view America as a post-racial environment, due to such victories as electing a black president; but the brutal, fatal and unjust events in Ferguson, Missouri prove that these divisions are still present. On August 9th, 2014, an unarmed, 18 year old black teen was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. The events that led to the death of Michael Brown occurred on an early morning where Mr. Wilson stopped Michael Brown and a friend after leaving a convenience store. An altercation occurred which prompted Mr. Brown to flee and officer Wilson to begin shooting. The death of Mr. Brown caused the city to stand up against police brutality through peaceful protest, looting, and even violence, to gain justice for Mr. Brown and his family. As the protests grew, the police used military tactics such as, tear gas, to “maintain order” during the unrest of the city. In recent, news the grand jury decided that Officer Darren Wilson was not responsible for the death of Michael Brown, which led to a larger public outrage not only in America, but also across the

August 9th 2014, Ferguson Missouri, an unarmed black teen Michael Brown was shot, and fatally wounded by a white police officer by the name of Darren Wilson. As a direct result of deciding not to indict Officer Wilson, the black community was out raged! Riots, looting, and damage to businesses soon followed the judge’s ruling. The trial was unlike normal trials which were treated with more expedience in the process, the grand jury in Officer Wilson case met for three months and 25 days. (Buchanan, et. al. 2014)

One of the most recent national conflicts deals with the shooting and killing of Michael Brown (a black man) by a white police officer ("Holder Announces Ferguson Probe, Review of St. Louis County Police Practices."). Sense Perception and Emotion should be considered when evaluating this situation at Ferguson. The sense perception of the witnesses as well as that of the two involved in the physical conflict needs to be taken into consideration. The police officer could have believed he was defended himself, and Brown could have thought the same. The witnesses and the surrounding population’s opinions should also be considered. St. Louis County is notorious for their crime rate and their protest/ riot like movements. These riots can probably be credited for getting this situation national attention because of the actions and the

One community that stands out the most for the conflict between law enforcement and their community is Ferguson, Missouri. On August 9, 2014 Darren Wilson, 28, a white Ferguson police officer fatally shot Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American male (McLaughlin). This case started one of the biggest uproar the nation has ever seen between community and law enforcement. When the incident first occurred there were many pieces of information missing to paint a scenario of how and what occurred between Brown and officer Wilson. Apparently Michael Brown was walking home late at night when officer Darren Wilson and Michael Brown got into a confrontation that lead to Wilson shooting Brown, the case goes

On August 9th, 2014, an unarmed teenage boy named Michael Brown was murdered by a Ferguson police officer. The reason for his death remains unknown. Bystanders say that the boy in question did not do anything wrong, he even put his hands in the air when police told him so. The conspicuous circumstances of this shooting sparked an already tense situation between the majority of Ferguson inhabitants and the police to a situation which quickly escalated towards riots and protests. This “hands up, don’t shoot” movement received worldwide media attention and generated a debate about the relationship between the black community and law enforcement in the U.S. In this essay I will try to answer how the anger towards the Ferguson police manifested

Everyone has heard of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri. Mike Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African-American male, was shot and killed by Caucasian police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014. This incident sparked an uproar on police brutality, escalating the whole white cop and black teen discrimination. Apparently Officer Wilson shot Mike Brown while he was trying to surrender. Even after police stated otherwise it was meant with skepticism. It all started after Officer Wilson saw two men walking down the middle of the street. There was a call sent out about a robbery by two African-American men earlier that day. Maybe it was the suspects, Officer Wilson drove by and told them to walk on the sidewalk and that went it from zero to one hundred. After a few words Mike Brown punched Officer Wilson in the face. Officer Wilson went for his weapon telling Brown to back off or he’ll get shot. Brown ignored and attempted to take the gun, that’s when Officer Wilson pulled the trigger. After multiple times pulling the trigger it finally went off. Glassed shattered with blood, Brown backed off then came back with his hands up only to attack Officer Wilson again. Officer Wilson pulled the trigger again until it fired. This time Brown made a run for it, Officer Wilson took chase only to see the Brown had stopped and turn to charge him. After multiple shots it was over with Brown dead on the street. After the Grand Jury decision to not indict Officer Wilson there was an explosion

According to The Federal News Dispatch, “Fresh protests were held across the United States as anger persisted over a grand jury 's decision not to charge a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager (Lanham).” The tension between police system and black communities in the United States has been increasing since past few years. After the death of Michele Brown, policing in America has been criticized by all levels of people. Looking at the Ferguson incident, intervention is necessary for the peaceful land of this racial conflict between police and African-American community.

Since Mike Brown death there has been some changes occurring in Ferguson. One of the biggest changes that has occurred is Ferguson now has its first black Chief of police (Morgan, 2016). The chief of police main priority is community policing he require that his officers get out of their cars and meet people (Morgan, 2016). Another major factored that has occurred is Ferguson now has a more diverse police department (Morgan, 2016). This is important because it can help eliminate officers who feel intimidated or unprepared because they are in a poverty area. If there is an officer on the force who comes from a poverty

On August 9th, 2014 , Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a police officer in a St. Louis, Missouri, suburb. Following the shooting, the largely populated black city of Ferguson erupted into protests, forcing the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to make an investigation into the incident. Law enforcement nowadays has become a major problem lately, they have been arresting and murdering hundreds of black people, for crimes if a white person did, will receive different treatment. And, when black people are taken to court they are receiving unfair sentences because of racial profiling . Although much has changed in the United States over the past 60 years, this country’s legal system has failed at providing justice for

On September 2, 2014 the Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division opened an investigation on the Ferguson Police Department (FPD). Subsequently, after the police involved shooting death of Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. The DOJ revealed that the police department had violated the first, fourth and fourteenth Amendment rights of the United States Constitution of its citizens (6). In addition, the DOJ wants to end illegal and racially-discriminatory policing such as targeting poor and African American people for arrest, in order to raise revenue (6). In the year of 2014, the FPD conducted a total of 4572 vehicle stops (758 Caucasian, 3756 African American and 58 other), which resulted in 409 searches (27 Caucasian, 379 African American

Throughout the recent years many incidents have occurred between citizens and law enforcement agents that has brought light to police brutality. The media has played the biggest role by focusing mainly on negative actions that law enforcement agents take rather than the positive ones. Law enforcement agents across the country have received a bad name and continue to receive negative backlash for the many incidents that have occurred. No not every officer is perfect and yes there are bad apples, however because the media has focused on the negativity, people across our country are quick to jump to conclusion when they see or hear what is in the media. Although most incidents may seem similar in the media, in light of the fact that they involve officers shooting “innocent victims”, every incident and case is different and the media does not always show or tell both sides of the story. In this paper I will be investigating two incidents that have occurred in the past year regarding black suspects being shot and killed by white police officers. One case happened in South Carolina and the other in Illinois. After investigating and finding facts I will then compare both cases to the Supreme Court case: Tennessee v. Garner 1985, and determine what case is the most alike to it and why.

“FPD’s suppression of speech reflects a police culture that relies on the exercise of police power—however unlawful—to stifle unwelcome criticism” (p.28). Finally, the argument that many attribute to reflect an instance of misconduct in police officers as an example of a “few bad apples” is erroneous and is actually largely attributed to the culture of the department. “Our investigation indicates that in Ferguson, individual officer behavior is largely driven by a police culture that focuses on revenue generation and is infected by race bias. While increased vertical and horizontal diversity, racial and otherwise, likely is necessary to change this culture, it probably cannot do so on its own” (p. 88). In addition to the previously stated data from the report, there are numerous instances where the FPD clearly acted with blatant excessive force, overwhelmingly against persons of color, yet no sense of accountability within the department exists. Not only did the U.S. Justice department conclude that the culture of the police department in FPD are contributing factors to racial biases and misconduct, but numerous studies have also concluded that individual acts by individual officers are largely attributed to the culture within the department that perpetuates the