In Ferguson Missouri the Truth will Set Us Free
The recent riots spurred by a white on black shooting in Ferguson Missouri is more than reminiscent. My generation saw these kind of events on television every summer for several years. Those of us who grew up in the 60's see it very differently then those who grew up after 1974. And of course White people are going to look at it through one lens and African Americans another. It is hard to see the other persons perspective. So what I am going to do is state what the facts and draw some obvious conclusions:
The media has focused so much on Micheal Johnson that I want to start with what we know about the officer. Darren Wilson is a white 15 year veteran who has served the Ferguson police force honorably at least to this point. He has never been accused of inappropriate action or brutality. He has received citations and awards for his duty. He was patrolling when he observed Michael Johnson and his friend walking in the middle of the street. (We do not know what he knew about Michael Johnson). We do not know his state of mind or demeanor at the time.
Here is what we know about Michael Johnson. He is an African American 18 year old recent high school graduate, who had just finished robbing a convenience store and accosting one of the employees. He has a juvenile felony arrest record, though sealed. He apparently has a history of illicit drug use and a connection with the violent street gang Crips is rumored.
Here is what we know about the incident: After robbing the store Johnson started walking away, but he was walking in the street interfering with traffic. After Officer Wilson asked Johnson to walk up on the sidewalk he (not knowing whether the officer knew about the robbery he had perpetrated) attacked the officer, beating him, threatening him, breaking his eye socket. Johnson was able to turn and walk away, fleeing the scene. Regaining his composure after being assaulted Officer Wilson got out of his car, drew his weapon pointed it at Johnson demanding that he halt. (It is at this point that what happened becomes unclear and the eye witness accounts vary). Johnson apparently turned back and started coming towards the officer. There was a verbal exchange. Wilson shot Johnson six times, four times in the arm twice in the head, killing him.
Here is what we do not know: Did Johnson raise his hands and say "don't shoot," coming back to the car to surrender, or did he taunt him, saying,'What are you going to do shoot me?" and put his head down to charge the officer? Did officer shoot from animus or fear?
Here is the minimum we can conclude: The officer dazed from an assaulted was within his right to do what was necessary to apprehend Johnson. Johnson's actions in the incident reveal that his mindset was aggressive and his intention was to flee the scene .The media portrayal of a white racist cop shooting an innocent wayfaring African American child is specious.
Here are the unanswered questions we must have answered if justice is to prevail:
What did the officer know about Johnson and did it affect how he acted?
What did Johnson believe the officer knew about him and did it affect his actions?
What were the motivations affecting both officer and the perpetrator?
What were the motivations of the witnesses?
Was it necessary or appropriate for the officer to fire six shots? Was lethal force warranted in this case?
Here is what is hindering an investigation of those facts: The police department's withholding information the public has a right to know. There are times when information should be withheld, such as evidence in a criminal investigation, but withholding the officer's identity and initial incident reports gave the impression that the department was rallying to protect their own rather than to find justice. I agree with those who are calling for the firing of police officials who mishandled this. They should be gone today.
The withholding of information lead to the next hindrance to the investigation-- the appearance of instigators. Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson, the Ambulance Chasers-in-Chief of the United States of America, came on the scene. As they did in Sanford Fl and countless other white on black shootings , these two rabble rousers played on assumptions, fears and grief of disenfranchised people, agitating the public against Officer Wilson and in favor of Johnson before anyone knew the facts. I believe these two need to be held accountable. Sharpton is a member of the media, who supposedly are to be unbiased reporters of events, not participant in them, minimally he should be suspended form NBC if not fired. The directors of Jackson's Rainbow Coalition should provide appropriate counsel or discipline to him. I hope Black Americans will learn that these two are simply exploitive charlatans, who seek more to be seen and heard than to heal America's divisions or seek justice for disenfranchise African Americans. Neither one of these guys are representative of the reconciling spirit of a DR. Marting Luther King. These two guys are only interested in seeing themselves on TV.
The third hindrance to justice is the states failure to assert authority and control the disorder. The governor sent in the National Guard, then limited their authority. The police came out with heavy weaponry and riot control gear, appropriate for the level of discord then pulled back. The demilitarization of Ferguson police is the biggest mistake so far. When riots and lawlessness engulf a city it is the responsibility of the police to secure order, and to protect life and property the constitutional rights of the peaceful demonstrators, a grieving family and accused police officer. The police need to show enough force (and be willing to use it if necessary) to turn back the actions of the lawless. Those who are breaking the laws and looting have no right to tell police what methods to use to quell the lawlessness. Once the state in response to criticism backed down on its response they lost control of events.
Fourth was the premature involvement of the Attorney General. We all know there have been cases like this before. One of the most famous is the Rodney King beating in Los Angeles. The federal government allowed state and local investigators to carry out their investigation. The case was mishandled as the police officers under the light of publicity were overcharged, and subsequently acquitted. The officers were guilty of improperly beating and restraining King and should have been punished, but the prosecutors were unable to establish culpability necessary to convict them of "attempted murder." They were then correctly acquitted of these charge, since once acquitted they could not be retried . This was of course perceived by the disenfranchised black community as a "white washing," of racism. Riots and looting broke out in Watts. The feds intervened. They indicted and convicted the officers of violating Kings civil rights. This is the ways our system works. State and local matters are handled by state and local authorities unless adjudicated
improperly.
When the Attorney General went to Ferguson before a state Grand Jury had even formed it added to the suspicion that the state and local government were at best incapable of settling the case or at worst institutionally racist. Since in people's past experience the federal prosecutors only step in when the states fail in their duty to prosecute, the presence of Holder cast an aspersion on the Missouri officials. Holder's statement that he could only view the situation through the eyes of a black man was a dereliction of duty. He was there under the authority of the President and Constitution to represent all Americans, not just African Americans. Since he admitted his bias his presence heightened the racial tension and made the case far less likely to be fairly adjudicated. He should have withdrawn himself from the case or Obama should have replaced him. We all understand that it is difficult, sometimes impossible for a person to separate their life experience from their jobs. Yet when one is an officer of the court if he is unable to be unbiased he must step aside. It was not improper for the President to send down a federal official to provide an ombudsman for all involved, but Holder was the wrong choice.
Fifthly, the President politicized the events. No one can know the President's motivation for getting involved prematurely. Many of President Obama's policy have resulted in further racial animus in this country. They certainly did in Ferguson. There are politicians on both sides of the aisle who would like nothing more than to see turmoil in Ferguson continue through the November election. Democratic candidates running for Senate (which they can not afford to lose to have good prospects of keeping the White House) are on the defensive over many of the President's policies and scandals. A domestic race issue gives an event to point to showing their efforts to "bring us together." Republicans running for the Senate (which they must control to have good prospect of winning the White House), have been promoting the narrative that big government causes economic decline of our cities, the disenfranchisement of the poor and lawlessness. Since this happened in a state with a vulnerable democratic senator, a democratic governor, a democratic attorney general, a democratic local prosecutor, Ferguson can certainly be presented as an example of failed government in general, and the democratic party in particular. The chaos in Ferguson will remain in the headlines through the November election as both sides will attempt to use it to their advantage.
Will justice prevail in Ferguson? I believe it will for the following reasons:
1. The election will be over in about 9 weeks. When the election is over the politicians and charlatans will leave waiting for the next crisis to exploit. Americans will become focused on the holidays.
2. The recent shooting of Trevon Martin along with this shooting of Michael Johnson demonstrates that despite their efforts the main stream media no longer control America's civil narrative. Were this the 60's, 70's or 80's Darren Wilson would all ready be in jail and Michael Johnson would be being a celebrated in High Schools nation wide. Media is no longer monolithic. It is no longer controlled by editorial boards in Washington and New York. The version of events told by the Washington Post or the New York Times used to be all the people heard. Now the public has a plethora of resources at their disposal to find out what really happened. As with the Trevon Martin shooting as time passed, and emotions waned the more facts were gathered the less it seemed to be a racial issue. The longer we went we learned that Martin was far from an innocent black man just on his way home minding his own business, and George Zimmerman (although one questions his judgment) could no longer be seen as an out of control, Hispanic man bent on killing a Negro. The facts were that these were two flawed human beings caught in a situation that neither one of them chose, making good and bad choices for which both were responsible. As the Zimmerman trial progressed it ceased to be perceived as a matter of race, as Hispanic versus black, the public came to see it as an unfortunate tragedy that destroyed two families. As more and more comes out about Johnson and Wilson the narrative of the gentle giant African American schoolboy innocently gunned down by the racist hostile White cops seems less and less credible. We are learning both are cases of two flawed men deserving of deep sympathy and uncompromising justice. I think as more information surfaces the human side of the story will pacify the agitators in Ferguson just as it did in Sanford. Regardless of how this ultimately turns out one young man's life is lost and can never be recover, another's career is destroyed, both families are forever wounded. Only time, and justice will heal this.
So what can I as a white male say Ferguson teaches us. I think it teaches us to be quick to love and slow to accuse, to be purveyors of peace rather than sowers of discord. I think it teaches us to take personal responsibility for our actions rather than calling on outsiders whether in government or anywhere else to help us, it teaches us that the strength of America is in its federalist system of power, and in the faith of its people. Mostly it teaches us that what government and justice systems can not do family and churches can. They can provide redemption, strength and healing. Because you have a white authority figure killing a black man race is part of the story. Racism want be ended by legislation or adjudication. Racism will end when people who are different each accept responsibility for failure, quit blaming others for their problems, replace public political discord with private conversation. To me that is the lesson of Ferguson is when you know the truth it does indeed set you free.
The media has focused so much on Micheal Johnson that I want to start with what we know about the officer. Darren Wilson is a white 15 year veteran who has served the Ferguson police force honorably at least to this point. He has never been accused of inappropriate action or brutality. He has received citations and awards for his duty. He was patrolling when he observed Michael Johnson and his friend walking in the middle of the street. (We do not know what he knew about Michael Johnson). We do not know his state of mind or demeanor at the time.
Here is what we know about Michael Johnson. He is an African American 18 year old recent high school graduate, who had just finished robbing a convenience store and accosting one of the employees. He has a juvenile felony arrest record, though sealed. He apparently has a history of illicit drug use and a connection with the violent street gang Crips is rumored.
Here is what we know about the incident: After robbing the store Johnson started walking away, but he was walking in the street interfering with traffic. After Officer Wilson asked Johnson to walk up on the sidewalk he (not knowing whether the officer knew about the robbery he had perpetrated) attacked the officer, beating him, threatening him, breaking his eye socket. Johnson was able to turn and walk away, fleeing the scene. Regaining his composure after being assaulted Officer Wilson got out of his car, drew his weapon pointed it at Johnson demanding that he halt. (It is at this point that what happened becomes unclear and the eye witness accounts vary). Johnson apparently turned back and started coming towards the officer. There was a verbal exchange. Wilson shot Johnson six times, four times in the arm twice in the head, killing him.
Here is what we do not know: Did Johnson raise his hands and say "don't shoot," coming back to the car to surrender, or did he taunt him, saying,'What are you going to do shoot me?" and put his head down to charge the officer? Did officer shoot from animus or fear?
Here is the minimum we can conclude: The officer dazed from an assaulted was within his right to do what was necessary to apprehend Johnson. Johnson's actions in the incident reveal that his mindset was aggressive and his intention was to flee the scene .The media portrayal of a white racist cop shooting an innocent wayfaring African American child is specious.
Here are the unanswered questions we must have answered if justice is to prevail:
What did the officer know about Johnson and did it affect how he acted?
What did Johnson believe the officer knew about him and did it affect his actions?
What were the motivations affecting both officer and the perpetrator?
What were the motivations of the witnesses?
Was it necessary or appropriate for the officer to fire six shots? Was lethal force warranted in this case?
Here is what is hindering an investigation of those facts: The police department's withholding information the public has a right to know. There are times when information should be withheld, such as evidence in a criminal investigation, but withholding the officer's identity and initial incident reports gave the impression that the department was rallying to protect their own rather than to find justice. I agree with those who are calling for the firing of police officials who mishandled this. They should be gone today.
The withholding of information lead to the next hindrance to the investigation-- the appearance of instigators. Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson, the Ambulance Chasers-in-Chief of the United States of America, came on the scene. As they did in Sanford Fl and countless other white on black shootings , these two rabble rousers played on assumptions, fears and grief of disenfranchised people, agitating the public against Officer Wilson and in favor of Johnson before anyone knew the facts. I believe these two need to be held accountable. Sharpton is a member of the media, who supposedly are to be unbiased reporters of events, not participant in them, minimally he should be suspended form NBC if not fired. The directors of Jackson's Rainbow Coalition should provide appropriate counsel or discipline to him. I hope Black Americans will learn that these two are simply exploitive charlatans, who seek more to be seen and heard than to heal America's divisions or seek justice for disenfranchise African Americans. Neither one of these guys are representative of the reconciling spirit of a DR. Marting Luther King. These two guys are only interested in seeing themselves on TV.
The third hindrance to justice is the states failure to assert authority and control the disorder. The governor sent in the National Guard, then limited their authority. The police came out with heavy weaponry and riot control gear, appropriate for the level of discord then pulled back. The demilitarization of Ferguson police is the biggest mistake so far. When riots and lawlessness engulf a city it is the responsibility of the police to secure order, and to protect life and property the constitutional rights of the peaceful demonstrators, a grieving family and accused police officer. The police need to show enough force (and be willing to use it if necessary) to turn back the actions of the lawless. Those who are breaking the laws and looting have no right to tell police what methods to use to quell the lawlessness. Once the state in response to criticism backed down on its response they lost control of events.
Fourth was the premature involvement of the Attorney General. We all know there have been cases like this before. One of the most famous is the Rodney King beating in Los Angeles. The federal government allowed state and local investigators to carry out their investigation. The case was mishandled as the police officers under the light of publicity were overcharged, and subsequently acquitted. The officers were guilty of improperly beating and restraining King and should have been punished, but the prosecutors were unable to establish culpability necessary to convict them of "attempted murder." They were then correctly acquitted of these charge, since once acquitted they could not be retried . This was of course perceived by the disenfranchised black community as a "white washing," of racism. Riots and looting broke out in Watts. The feds intervened. They indicted and convicted the officers of violating Kings civil rights. This is the ways our system works. State and local matters are handled by state and local authorities unless adjudicated
improperly.
When the Attorney General went to Ferguson before a state Grand Jury had even formed it added to the suspicion that the state and local government were at best incapable of settling the case or at worst institutionally racist. Since in people's past experience the federal prosecutors only step in when the states fail in their duty to prosecute, the presence of Holder cast an aspersion on the Missouri officials. Holder's statement that he could only view the situation through the eyes of a black man was a dereliction of duty. He was there under the authority of the President and Constitution to represent all Americans, not just African Americans. Since he admitted his bias his presence heightened the racial tension and made the case far less likely to be fairly adjudicated. He should have withdrawn himself from the case or Obama should have replaced him. We all understand that it is difficult, sometimes impossible for a person to separate their life experience from their jobs. Yet when one is an officer of the court if he is unable to be unbiased he must step aside. It was not improper for the President to send down a federal official to provide an ombudsman for all involved, but Holder was the wrong choice.
Fifthly, the President politicized the events. No one can know the President's motivation for getting involved prematurely. Many of President Obama's policy have resulted in further racial animus in this country. They certainly did in Ferguson. There are politicians on both sides of the aisle who would like nothing more than to see turmoil in Ferguson continue through the November election. Democratic candidates running for Senate (which they can not afford to lose to have good prospects of keeping the White House) are on the defensive over many of the President's policies and scandals. A domestic race issue gives an event to point to showing their efforts to "bring us together." Republicans running for the Senate (which they must control to have good prospect of winning the White House), have been promoting the narrative that big government causes economic decline of our cities, the disenfranchisement of the poor and lawlessness. Since this happened in a state with a vulnerable democratic senator, a democratic governor, a democratic attorney general, a democratic local prosecutor, Ferguson can certainly be presented as an example of failed government in general, and the democratic party in particular. The chaos in Ferguson will remain in the headlines through the November election as both sides will attempt to use it to their advantage.
Will justice prevail in Ferguson? I believe it will for the following reasons:
1. The election will be over in about 9 weeks. When the election is over the politicians and charlatans will leave waiting for the next crisis to exploit. Americans will become focused on the holidays.
2. The recent shooting of Trevon Martin along with this shooting of Michael Johnson demonstrates that despite their efforts the main stream media no longer control America's civil narrative. Were this the 60's, 70's or 80's Darren Wilson would all ready be in jail and Michael Johnson would be being a celebrated in High Schools nation wide. Media is no longer monolithic. It is no longer controlled by editorial boards in Washington and New York. The version of events told by the Washington Post or the New York Times used to be all the people heard. Now the public has a plethora of resources at their disposal to find out what really happened. As with the Trevon Martin shooting as time passed, and emotions waned the more facts were gathered the less it seemed to be a racial issue. The longer we went we learned that Martin was far from an innocent black man just on his way home minding his own business, and George Zimmerman (although one questions his judgment) could no longer be seen as an out of control, Hispanic man bent on killing a Negro. The facts were that these were two flawed human beings caught in a situation that neither one of them chose, making good and bad choices for which both were responsible. As the Zimmerman trial progressed it ceased to be perceived as a matter of race, as Hispanic versus black, the public came to see it as an unfortunate tragedy that destroyed two families. As more and more comes out about Johnson and Wilson the narrative of the gentle giant African American schoolboy innocently gunned down by the racist hostile White cops seems less and less credible. We are learning both are cases of two flawed men deserving of deep sympathy and uncompromising justice. I think as more information surfaces the human side of the story will pacify the agitators in Ferguson just as it did in Sanford. Regardless of how this ultimately turns out one young man's life is lost and can never be recover, another's career is destroyed, both families are forever wounded. Only time, and justice will heal this.
So what can I as a white male say Ferguson teaches us. I think it teaches us to be quick to love and slow to accuse, to be purveyors of peace rather than sowers of discord. I think it teaches us to take personal responsibility for our actions rather than calling on outsiders whether in government or anywhere else to help us, it teaches us that the strength of America is in its federalist system of power, and in the faith of its people. Mostly it teaches us that what government and justice systems can not do family and churches can. They can provide redemption, strength and healing. Because you have a white authority figure killing a black man race is part of the story. Racism want be ended by legislation or adjudication. Racism will end when people who are different each accept responsibility for failure, quit blaming others for their problems, replace public political discord with private conversation. To me that is the lesson of Ferguson is when you know the truth it does indeed set you free.
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