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25 Nov, 2014 00:05

Ferguson grand jury decision divides America

Ferguson grand jury decision divides America

A wave of unrest – violent protests with arrests, as well as peaceful marches – swept over Ferguson and other cities across the USA after police officer Darren Wilson was acquitted by a grand jury of lawfully killing unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

  • 03 December 2014

    04:10 GMT

    St. Louis County police are investigating Louis Head, Michael Brown’s stepfather, for comments he made to a Ferguson crowd after the grand jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson, reported The Associated Press.

    Widely-circulated video showed Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, on top of a car and breaking down as the announcement blares on a stereo. Head, her husband, comforts her then repeatedly yells angry comments, including, "Burn this bitch down!"

    "There's a wrong, but then you need to know why that wrong was committed." #Brown cousin Ty Pruitt on Louis Head outburst #Ferguson

    — CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) December 3, 2014

    The police are looking into whether Head’s comments could be considered as inciting a riot.

    “He just spoke out of anger. It's one thing to speak, and it's a different thing to act. He did not act. He just spoke out of anger,” Lesley McSpadden said in an interview with CNN last week. "When you're that hurt and the system has did you this wrong, you may say some things as well. We've all spoke out of anger before."

    Head’s comments are part of a broader investigation into arson, vandalism and looting that followed the grand jury announcement, according to Brian Schellman, a spokesman for the St. Louis County Police. Twelve commercial buildings were destroyed by fire, and there was extensive looting.

    If Louis Head is being investigated for incitement, then @CivilRights needs to investigate Bob McCulloch for the same. #Ferguson

    — TC (@tchopstl) December 2, 2014
  • 04:01 GMT

    A Washington state Facebook user was arrested and charged on Tuesday for allegedly making repeated interstate threats to kill a recently resigned Ferguson police officer identified by federal authorities only as “D.W.,” members of the officer’s family and other law enforcement officers said.

    There has been no confirmation, but it is suspected the user was referring to Darren Wilson.

    The FBI agent in the International Terrorism Squad of the Seattle field division filed a complaint against Jaleel Tariq Abdul-Jabbaar, claiming he started posting threats on his Facebook page shortly after the August 9 shooting of Michael Brown all the way through late November.

    In one of Abdul-Jabbaar's posts, he stated: “We need to kill (the officer) and anything that has a badge on.” He also used Facebook communications to attempt to acquire a firearm despite having a felony record.

    Abdul-Jabbaar faces three counts of making interstate threats. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison.

  • 01:27 GMT

    Protests continued to take place in Missouri, where roughly 300 students walked out of two high schools in the Ferguson area. Reports online suggest that some teachers also walked out with students.

    Back from holidays, U.S. students walk out over Ferguson decision | Reuters http://t.co/EJb7Vo3VGU

    — Dougy's Daily Digest (@skinnergj) December 2, 2014

    @UGAELITE: Students participating in a "die-in" for 4.5 minutes at Tate Plaza #Ferguson#MikeBrown#UGA@UGANAACPpic.twitter.com/sFKrJKdkYY

    — UGA NAACP (@UGANAACP) December 3, 2014

    Meanwhile, students at George Washington University staged a "die-in" to protest the grand jury decision.

    Walked by a Ferguson “die-in” at George Washington University. pic.twitter.com/cdN5EXTZ7W

    — Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) December 2, 2014
  • 01:10 GMT
  • 00:44 GMT

    Dozens of #DCFerguson protesters occupying #UnionStation in #DC for #MikeBrown#Ferguson#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/estvfLDrOz

    — Wes Bruer CNN (@WesBruerCNN) December 3, 2014
  • 00:15 GMT

    There is currently a #Ferguson protest/sit in, in #UnionStation#DC. Very peaceful but HEAVY police presence! pic.twitter.com/j39IXcJ8fZ

    — Katrina Avila (@KatrinaMarie8) December 2, 2014

  • 02 December 2014

    23:53 GMT

    Dozens of protesters have shut down the entrance to the Washington, DC Metro's Union Station entrance.


    Police are redirecting traffic to nearby public transport hubs.

    Police are directing #UnionStation visitors to alternative Metro/MARC/Amtrak entrances, to not reach #Ferguson sit-in pic.twitter.com/iG0zLtXAEW

    — Katrina Avila (@KatrinaMarie8) December 2, 2014


    Howard students currently shutting down union station. #DCFergusonpic.twitter.com/whDAEift2f

    — The Antique Black (@MelanatedGOD) December 3, 2014

  • 01 December 2014

    22:38 GMT

    President Barack Obama is requesting congressional funding to provide 50,000 body cameras for police across the country.

    Obama speaking on #Ferguson says he wants an additional 50 THOUSAND body cameras in use in police departments across US

    — Ameera David (@AmeeraDavid) December 1, 2014
  • 02:16 GMT

    .

    "we came, we saw, we shut shit down" - #Ferguson protester leave S County Walmart Ruptly https://t.co/O0XaqXGhYC

    — denise reese (@denice_ruptly) December 1, 2014

  • 02:14 GMT

    .

    Protesters just shut down the South County Wallmart #Fergusonpic.twitter.com/JGnTaSXCoU

    — Paulina Leonovich (@Polly_evro) December 1, 2014

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