Why are the Ferguson protestors not in NYC instead??

[7962]

For whatever reason, we still dont know exactly what happened in Ferguson. Still havent heard the cops story, or the complete stories of the eyewitnesses. I think this is a mistake on the cities part. Firs people said he was shot in the back. Now we hear the cops face is beat up. The city needs to tell the whole story as soon as possible, but they wait for a grand jury. Why? The story is what it is, TELL IT. Waiting will only make the situation worse.
However, we have VIDEO of a cop choking a man to death on the streets of NYC. A man who was unarmed and not resisting. On video from 2 feet away. This story IS out there, and there is only one version because it was recorded as it happened. Why arent all the out of town protestors in New York instead? Shouldnt there be massive protests by everyone in NYC? There's NO DOUBT as to what happened to that man. He was choked to death as he told them he couldnt breathe. No injured cops, no fired weapons, no stolen cigs. A dead unarmed man.
We may finally get the story in Ferguson. But we KNOW the story in New York.

[leftynyc]

1. Maybe because our officials

seem to be taking the death of Mr. Garner seriously. There's a march scheduled this weekend in Staten Island:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nyc-mayor-faith-leaders-meet-chokehold-death-25055805

[JustAnotherGen]

3. +1 - See my response below

A different p.o.v. - but generally - it's an NYC problem. Asking poor black folks in the lower midwest to deplete their savings accounts to head out to an area filled with millions is just silly.

[7962]

5. There are a LOT of out-of-towners in Ferguson. Thats who I'm talking about

Obviously locals are not the issue. And most of those arrested lately are not even from Ferguson.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Sorry - it wasn't clear

But I still think Manhattan's got this.



They can do bad all by themselves. Something the elderly black women in my family say - it means - get this shit done.

[MohRokTah]

26. Most of the out of towners are still from the St. Louis area. eom

[JaneyVee]

40. We rallied for both Garner and Mike Brown in Times Square.

[7962]

7. Good!

[KurtNYC]

14. Eric Garner protests + combo Garner and Brown protests

http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2014/08/mayor_bill_de_blasio_calls_for.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/15/eric-garner-protest-march-moved-bridge-staten-island

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/19/grand-jury-eric-garner-chokehold-nypd

Combos - Garner and Brown
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/08/16/national-action-network-holds-rally-for-eric-garner-michael-brown/

http://online.wsj.com/articles/staten-island-rally-to-include-protests-over-shooting-in-ferguson-mo-1408326192

TV "news" doesn't tell one everything. You might try other sources for news.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. That's up to the people of NYC

The onus is on them. In reviewing the general atmosphere of Ferguson - including the economy - these folks don't have a thousand dollars sitting around to head off to NYC and protest.

Not their circus - not their monkeys.

There are what? 10/12 Million people in the greater NYC Area?

The onus is on those people in Manhattan to get out in the streets. Hold THEIR Mayor accountable. Hold their Police Chief accountable. Then head up to Albany and light a fire under Cuomo's and Duffy's butts.

The people of Ferguson have their own backyard to clean up right now.

[LisaLynne]

4. Not to speak for the OP ...

but I got the impression that what the OP is saying is why aren't the people of NYC protesting as vigorously as the people of Ferguson, not that the people of Ferguson should go to NYC.

[7962]

6. Yes, that was my main point. As well as the media, who I fault the most here.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. I don't know if I fault the media

I truly fault the police Chief. It was bad enough - but releasing that video tape and incident report from the store - that made it worse.

Now if he is holding back the incident report on the shooting of Mr. Brown because the officer who shot Mr. Brown needs him to for his criminal case - then that says a great deal right there.

Why is the Police Chief holding back?

[7962]

15. I dont know. Thats my big question too. And that tape is another piece I forgot about.

Its just 1 piece here and there, trickling out. Releasing the video really didnt bother me; its part of the story and was GOING ot come out because the news organizations had requested it. But at that point, when they named the officer and released the tape, they should've said "Here's what happened according to the officer. And here are the statements by the witnesses". Why would that be so hard to do? It had been several days since the initial incident, so plenty of time to interview everyone involved.

[JustAnotherGen]

19. It bothers me

Because there is no volume, and we can't seem to get that store clerk to tell us what was really going on. The more you watch it - the more it appears money changed hands. And it was only a couple of little packs -not a box.

Don't believe me? Stop at a quick check or stop n go tonight after work - and ask the clerk to show you a BOX of swishers. It's real apparent that the incident report released - isn't even accurate.

IF that store clerk is in 'danger' - then his danger point would have been Mr. Brown - who btw - is now dead.

He needs to tell us all what happened - since there is no trial in play for the alleged theft. You can't try a dead man - ya just can't!

It absolutely won't hurt a Civil Rights trial by the DOJ. Mutually exclusive. Judge, jury, executioner - that's Wilson the thug.

[7962]

22. Tuesday, the guy who was with Brown said they did steal them

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/08/15/attorney-dorian-johnson-michael-brown-robbery/14118769/

[JustAnotherGen]

25. I saw that but -

How many?

A box of cigars - yep - probably a bit more expensive in NJ - due to our oppressive taxes.

That just made the incident report - bunk. I can't trust it when they don't get a simple thing like box at $50 vs packs at a few dollars wrong.

And besides - there will be no trial for that.

You do realize that right - you can't try a dead man.


That's why I didn't understand the whole Trayvon Martin trial - he was dead. He should never have been on trial for killing himself.

[JustAnotherGen]

27. I just want to add - so you understand where I'm coming from here

I don't believe -

The Mayor
The police chief
The D.A.


Of Ferguson - those three - have zero credibility at this point with me.


So you have to start this discussion with me from there.

They don't have credibility - Mayor DeBlasio does.

[7962]

30. Yeah, it'd probably be different if they hadnt stonewalled from the start. nt

[KurtNYC]

10. Unless one is a Hindu, we DO know what happened in Ferguson

And it continues to happen -- police over reacting to unarmed people, pointing guns, saying they will "f**king kill you" and occasionally killing.

Does the cop on the right here, the shooter, look to you like he has any eye injuries? Don't you think they would release photographs of his injuries if he had any??

Protests can raise awareness (although perhaps you have missed the Staten Island protests. There were no snipers, LRAD or tear gas deployed). The answer is not relocating protests but better training, over sight and accountability of those who are entrusted with ensuring law and order.

[7962]

23. I have seen some protests, but it sure isnt getting the attention in the media that it deserves

I'm sure locally it is, but Ferguson is all night every night. I had even forgotten Garners name.

Your other point is just what I was talking about earlier; why the hell dont they release ALL the info they have? We HEAR that the cop has broken bones in his face, but nothing "official". This video doesnt show the guy clearly, so who knows. But even with whats "leaked", it doesnt look good for the cop.

[KurtNYC]

29. Television is only one part of the media

We have video of the cop walking around seconds after the shooting with no sign of discomfort and no visible injuries but you are going with an unsourced story about an alleged "orbital fracture" ? The video is plenty clear enough to show that he is not touching his eye area, not seeking medical attention, not walking around like he is in physical pain, not bleeding...

American TV is a sales medium. The business of television is to sell audiences to advertisers. The audience has no business relationship with television, they aren't the ones paying. The audience itself is what is being sold, much like the chickens at KFC.

TV is a hypnotic medium that bombards the viewer with sight, sound, motion and lots of graphic overlays. It is not designed to stimulate people to do their own critical thinking but rather to lapse into a stupor where they are easily suggestible and can be sold products, wars, and ideas.

[BklnDem75]

11. NYC didn't do what Ferguson did...

Ferguson PD huddled around their killer, keeping even his identity secret until 6 days later. Nobody knows if this cop was under the influence and all the information so far is second hand. Everything coming from Ferguson PD is now suspect, including the claims of being attacked by Michael Brown.

[7962]

18. Exactly. The sooner they released the story, the better. But we wait.....

Even if it was something nobody wanted to hear. Because the longer they wait, the more likely no one will believe whatever that story IS.

[cwydro]

12. I posted the same thing

a few days ago.

Got flamed. Good luck to you.

DU thrives on the shiny things with violence and mayhem. Not on peaceful patience.

[m-lekktor]

17. no you posted why wasn't anybody at DU talking about or outraged at the NYC incident

and posters responded to inform you yes it WAS discussed and threads were started to discuss it. the "flaming" was people correcting your false assumption. THIS thread is about why aren't NYC folks protesting and not what you are complaining about, DUers and shiny objects or whatever.

[brooklynite]

13. Maybe because NYC is dealing with the situation.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-19/n-y-prosecutor-calls-grand-jury-probe-of-police-choking-death.html

And it's already been established that the choke hold used was against Police regulations.

I know its more fun to paint all police with the same brush, but it's doesn't always jibe with reality.

[7962]

16. I wonder how long a grand jury will take in NY? Most of the incident is ON TAPE!

If you're referring to me, I didnt think I painted all cops with a broad brush. I'm just wondering why so much media and out of town attention is paid to Ferguson when there was this obvious incident in NY.
Believe me, I know full well what would happen if we had NO cops. The problem is they're hiring too many of the wrong ones these days.

[brooklynite]

28. The reason for the difference is...

...in NYC it's a criminal case withe evidrnce that's going through proper channels. In Ferguson its a story about protests and police over-reaction en masse and people don't know the outcome.

[Squinch]

20. Because NYC is not trying to sweep Eric Garner's death under the rug. Garner's death has already

been ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, and the case is going to the grand jury.

The reason that people are protesting in Ferguson is that they want the cop to be charged and the case to be tried. That is already happening in the case of Mr. Garner's death. It seems very likely that cop is going to jail.

[JVS]

21. They live 1000 miles from NYC and even if they could get there it would be expensive.

I also suspect that since the media networks are headquartered in NYC that devoting extensive coverage to the abuses of the NYPD would be considered shitting where they eat. There are a lot of people working in the networks' buildings that live in gentrified sections of the city and feel that the benefits of "broken window" policing since the early 1990s are worth some overzealous policing.

[Taitertots]

31. Because the NYPD is the modern day Gestapo

NYC already held massive protests at the extreme injustice of the American legal/economic/social order. It was called OWS. They were beaten, spied on, subject to mass arrests, arbitrary detention, sprayed with chemicals...

Ferguson is just one of the few places where the police state is still weak enough that protest is even possible.

[Squinch]

32. I disagree. If Ferguson did what NYC did, the protests would stop today. In NYC the murder has

already been ruled a homicide by the Medical Examiner and the case is going to the grand jury. That is what the people of Ferguson are fighting to see happen.

[Taitertots]

35. If you disagree, I think you missed the point

If ferguson did what the NYPD did to OWS, then the protests would stop. NYPD systemic human rights abuses/police criminality were the reason OWS stopped.

[Squinch]

36. OWS and Ferguson are two different situations. I think you are missing why people are protesting

in Ferguson.

[Taitertots]

37. You're right. But it has nothing to do with what I'm saying

You are missing why people don't protest in places other than Ferguson. The reason is systemic human rights abuses/police criminality.

I know why they protest in Ferguson. B/C our political/economic/legal/social institutions don't serve the interests of the people.

[Squinch]

38. No. The reason people in NYC are not protesting the recent murder of a black man by police is, as

I said, because all the things the people in Ferguson are protesting to achieve have already happened in New York. The medical examiner declared the death a homicide, and the cop is being tried for the murder.

[Taitertots]

39. Our legal/economic/political/social institutions don't serve the interests of the masses

Are you still one of the people that thinks this is just about two police incidents? People are protesting because of systemic human rights violations that everyone experiences (disproportionately minorities). The two incidents (NY and MO) are just a manifestation of the myriad of problems that America is facing.

We could put the Eric Garner case at the top of a long list of similar cases of police abuse. A quick google search yields other cases where the police face no punishment for egregious crimes. These cases are just an indication that the mechanism by which the will of the governed control their legal/economic/political/social institutions is broken. It has been broken by a tiny cabal of rich people using their unimaginable wealth to control our democracy.

But I digress. People don't protest in NYC because the NYPD will shut it down with unrestrained violence. Just like they did with OWS.

[Squinch]

41. Maybe our system doesn't, but that is not the reason why people are not protesting in NYC.

The murder of Eric Garner has been acknowledged as a murder, and the cop is going to trial for it.

We could go around in this circle forever, and I suspect you will come back with the same argument that Occupy Wall Street broke the will of the people of New York to challenge the police. As a person of New York, I am certain that is not true, and what is more, it is rather silly. So have a nice night.

[badtoworse]

33. As I recall, all the NYPD did was throw OWS out of Zuccotti Park...

...and they let them stay a long time considering the mess they were making downtown. Local residents were getting tired of OWS people crapping in the street and might have thrown them out themselves if the cops hadn't acted.

[Taitertots]

34. You must watch corporate media if you believe that white wash narrative

There is a mountain of video evidence proving that they did everything that I said they did.