Would the cops be gathering if the grand jury had voted to indict Wilson?

[NightWatcher]

Or is this a case of 'we're about to outrage everyone, so let's get ready to pepper spray the masses when they, rightfully so, act out in anger'?

When the authorities predict the injustice that is about to happen, does it make it that much worse? If the people of Ferguson were getting justice, there'd be no outrage or protest.

This whole situation just stinks. The media and law enforcement are counting on trouble and are preparing to cover the bloodshed that they themselves create.

[B2G]

1. They'd be gathering either way. nt

[el_bryanto]

4. I think that's accurate.

They have a racist opinion of the community there - they don't expect them to react rationally - so either way the expect trouble.

Bryant

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. Racist? Really?? I was at my folks' house last night and saw on the news where a black cop

"Superman punched" another black citizen in the face, then he charged at a group of people on the sidewalk. When he did that, another black man took off running like he was scared and this same cop tackled him, then a white cop jumped in to handcuff the man.

Ghost

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. And this is relevant, how? n/t

[jeff47]

20. You see as long as there is any violence within one race

that means there can't possibly be racially motivated violence between different races!!!

[Ghost in the Machine]

25. Please post a link to where I've EVER said anything of the sort. I'll be waiting....

Thanks in advance,

Ghost

[Ghost in the Machine]

24. I think it shows more of an action between citizens and what amounts to a police state...

I just know what I saw on live tv: a black cop aggressively going after black protesters, punching one in the face, then chasing and tackling another. Black and white protesters, demonstrators, activists or whatever anyone wants to call them, standing TOGETHER PEACEFULLY, being accosted by black and white cops working in concert with each other.

Contrast that to the picture of the 2 white cops taking in the white guy who was supposedly burning cop cars. The "perp" was smiling, and didn't appear to have a mark on him, though I will admit that I didn't see the actual arrest go down on that one.

Let me tell you a little story here: I owned a restaurant in a small town in East Tennessee. I have hair halfway down my back, a beard that reaches my chest and I'm covered with tattoos. There was a rodeo in town one night and after it was over a few "cowboys" came in to eat. At the time, my server was taking orders from 2 black men in there with their girlfriends. They had been there several times before, "semi-regulars". The "cowboys" started harassing my server, telling her to "get those N*****s out of there or they were going to leave". I came out from behind my counter and told the "cowboys" that they needed to get up ad leave right now, under their own power, or I would remove them personally and they wouldn't like MY way because they would be leaving in a meat wagon. They got up and left, cussing all the way out the door. I looked around the restaurant and said "does anyone else have a problem??" Nobody said a word, they all just started clapping and said "we love how you handled that!" I apologized to the two couples and told them that their meals were on me that night.

NOBODY tells ME *who* I'll serve, stand up for, or anything else for that matter. I'm 6'3", at the time weighed about 270 lbs, spent 8 years as a bouncer at a 1&er biker bar and had been trained in martial arts since I was old enough to remember. I used to tell people that "I do *what* I want to, *when* I want to and for no other reason than *because* I want to, and there ain't too many people who can stop me". I've mellowed out a lot over the last 8 years, but will stand up for ANYONE being treated wrong in a heartbeat, regardless of race, religion, sexual preference or if someone is being ganged up on.... the only exceptions being a pedophile or rapist being beat down. Hatred is a product that destroys the vessel in which it is contained.... but I hate pedophiles and rapists with a passion. I just don't let it eat at me.

Peace,

Ghost

[LawDeeDah]

10. They would not get any information ahead of anyone else

I don't think.

but who knows, Ferguson legals aren't all that trustworthy

[jeff47]

19. Yes, prosecutors never talk to police.

[hlthe2b]

2. The media has so hyped the expectation of violence, it truly seems like they have created and WANT

self-fulfilling prophesy.

Yes, of course they are instigating....

[RKP5637]

3. Yep, to me at least it's pretty clear I think what the result will be, otherwise, they

would not have started all of the preparations some time ago. A huge problem is the media, the police and TPTB in MO IMO hype the situation which results in making a bad situation worse as it antagonizes the protesters and discontent.

[Euphoria]

5. My guess....No. n/t

[uppityperson]

6. I think they'd be gathering and making preparations either way. I hope it is peaceful and those prep

preparations were for naught.

[Nye Bevan]

7. Yes, because the Klan has made threats (nt)

[lob1]

8. The cops will make sure there's trouble.

[Louisiana1976]

11. Exactly. I wouldn't put it past them to practice police brutality against peaceful protestors.

[SoCalMusicLover]

9. Must See TV

Funny that there will be 2 Monday Night Football games starting at the same time as the press conference, which is kind of historic. But I bet the vast majority will be tuned into the presser and the subsequent riots on the news channels instead.

[LittleBlue]

12. Not sure

It certainly does indicate no indictment, but then again, CYA in this case is at maximum level. No official wants to be seen as not taking proper precautions, whether that's against angry rioters or potentially violent celebrations. I recall sports teams winning the championship and then burning/smashing up property.

I'm not sure we can read anything into this.

[malaise]

13. Or would the governor be meeting with the clergy

Looks like the fix is in.

[lindysalsagal]

16. Two different expectations can be simultaneously correct:

1. This is an ugly case and people who want to be in an ugly violent situation will come out, regardless of the details. The local authorities do need to attempt to control a bad situation.

2. The town is so entrenched in bigotry that only civil disobedience will ever wake them up. The local judicial authorities failed to bring this to trial and so they should expect unrest if/when the grand jury/the local laws allow this crime to go unpunished.

The police presence doesn't "mean" anything about the decision.

[NightWatcher]

17. re:2. Civil disobedience will only succeed in getting protesters shot tonight

I would also say that protesting and marching are one thing while riots and lawlessness are something entirely different. The military and militarized police are not preparing for marchers with signs and demands of change. The military are prepping to contain an angry mob... be they angry now or after the first volleys of rubber bullets and pepper spray fly.

I hope there is peace tonight and a grand jury bill of indictment. I am counting on neither.

[lindysalsagal]

18. Agreed.

[H. Cromwell]

21. Against ALL Odds...

It would b astounding if after the grand jury decision, NOBODY protested or celebrated (depending on the decision). All the LEOs "all dressed up with nobody to arrest."
When you consider all the preparation getting ready for a riot...protesting isn't worth it. Considering protesting will not change the outcome of the grand jury decision either way. Arrests, injuries, property damage and maybe even more deaths...and the grand jury's decision will still be standing.

[jwirr]

23. Unfortunately. And someday this Ferguson MO police force will be remembered in history like

many of us remember the bigoted southern sheriff with the dogs. As total bums.

[ctaylors6]

22. Or news report about prosecutor releasing GJ info

previous reports had said would have to wait on judge approval. Now this report is that prosecutor had been "seeking an advisory opinion about whether he could release grand jury records. ... The motion was withdrawn because we concluded that we didn't need an order of the court to release the testimony and other documents presented to the grand jury.”

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-county-prosecutor-will-release-records-if-no-indictment/article_2772769b-61c1-5082-8682-45655477b030.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

I'm not sure why they would care about that this morning if there's indictment??? Maybe they didn't know about the decision yet?
They won't release any info if there's going to be trial.