So
I went to bed last night before the Ferguson lack of indictment was announced. But I can't say I was surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. Between the decision to announce at night and the gathering of police, it was pretty obvious that they were not going to indict Darren Wilson, and that the local government was doing its best to make the situation as awful as possible (The Onion's pre-decision headline, "Heavy Police Presence In Ferguson To Ensure Residents Adequately Provoked," was dead-on).
As Newsweek noted a few months ago, prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch pretty much sides with the cops every time. And as just about everyone has noted, damned near any prosecutor can get a grand jury indictment. the famous quote by Sol Wachtler about prosecutors convincing grand juries to "indict a ham sandwich" being pretty accurate. Of course, as 538 notes, cops are the exception. It's almost like they're a protected class, allowed to abuse the law with impunity. If you prefer more right-wing sources, here's Reason noting the same thing. If you prefer less integrity-driven right-wing sources, National Review is all over things arguing that cops are the victims here. I won't link to their bile.
I'm disgusted and disappointed and horrified and angry. And (as Colleen Lindsay noted), the very fact that those, and not fear, are my emotions is about as much of a sign of privilege as anything.
Doing a rare thing and disabling comments here; between work and other stuff, I don't have a lot of web time today, and frankly, there are plenty of places for folks to have a conversation if they want it. Take care of yourself.
As Newsweek noted a few months ago, prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch pretty much sides with the cops every time. And as just about everyone has noted, damned near any prosecutor can get a grand jury indictment. the famous quote by Sol Wachtler about prosecutors convincing grand juries to "indict a ham sandwich" being pretty accurate. Of course, as 538 notes, cops are the exception. It's almost like they're a protected class, allowed to abuse the law with impunity. If you prefer more right-wing sources, here's Reason noting the same thing. If you prefer less integrity-driven right-wing sources, National Review is all over things arguing that cops are the victims here. I won't link to their bile.
I'm disgusted and disappointed and horrified and angry. And (as Colleen Lindsay noted), the very fact that those, and not fear, are my emotions is about as much of a sign of privilege as anything.
Doing a rare thing and disabling comments here; between work and other stuff, I don't have a lot of web time today, and frankly, there are plenty of places for folks to have a conversation if they want it. Take care of yourself.