***Official*** Ferguson Grand Jury Decision Thread

[MoonRiver]

(somebody had to do it)

[elleng]

1. 2 hours early

[MoonRiver]

2. I just heard that on CNN.

sigh

[SummerSnow]

3. This thread will be on fire in a few hours

[MoonRiver]

4. Because I have to get up so early, I might be asleep before the decision

is announced.

[Lifelong Protester]

5. It is certainly being dragged out, isn't it?

[MoonRiver]

7. Makes no sense.

My husband just pointed out that announcing it at night will increase the chances of destructive protests (hope that doesn't happen myself).

[Lifelong Protester]

10. I agree with your spouse.

They have been saying on the news for weeks that the grand jury will hand down their verdict "any minute now'... for weeks!!

[Savannahmann]

33. But it has an advantage.

All the day office workers will be off the streets and home. So the fewest people possible will be away from home when it is announced. Because of that I'm assuming 90% probability that no indictment will be forthcoming.

[Blue_Tires]

50. Might as well announce it at midnight, then

or eight in the morning...

[H2O Man]

6. I'm hoping for justice.

This country needs to find common ground.

[MoonRiver]

8. Same here.

If they actually indict him it will send such a positive message to the African American community and all of us who want the justice system to be fair.

[PAProgressive28]

9. Don't hold your breath

on either one

[Chemisse]

11. If there were going to be charges, there would not be this lengthy build-up.

I am betting there will be no charge whatsoever.

I am also thinking that authorities in Fergusen have know the outcome for a week and a half, during which time they have been trying to preemptively quell the masses and preparing for protests.

[RKP5637]

39. That's what I think too. I know none are supposed to know, but on something this big I bet

there are some sidelines of communication that give the drift of the decision so TPTB can prepare.

[Jenoch]

15. You cannot be serious about that.

The best thing to happen would be if there was zero violence tonight.

[PAProgressive28]

17. That's not the way to go

The media wants that. The conservatives want that. The media is counting down to 9:00 like the fucking New Year's Eve ball is going to drop. No violence would make them look like fools.

[dilby]

18. There is going to be an overwhelming amount of violence dished out tonight.

All by racists wearing badges and beating down citizens who are just supposed to take it.

[PAProgressive28]

20. And it will go unreported

If one black guy knocks over a stop sign Breitbart and FOX News will go nuts and the rest of the media will follow suit. It'll then be used as justification for police shootings. Sometimes you do have to take it.

[In_The_Wind]

19. I truly hope you are wrong.

[Agschmid]

54. Yup.

[Throd]

13. I predict little or no violence outside of St Louis.

[MoonRiver]

14. Maybe, but St. Louis and St. Louis County are huge.

Lots of damage and pain could be inflicted.

[Tatiana]

16. I don't think anyone believes Wilson will be indicted. n/t

[MoonRiver]

21. Sonny Hostan (sp) thinks there is so much evidence

she doubts there will not be an indictment. She has never been a Pollyanna type. Hoping she's right.

[avebury]

22. What makes me so angry about what has

been going on in Ferguson is the total lack of credibility in the investigation and grand jury process. It is totally insane and unacceptable to leave a Prosecutor who is so blatantly biased in favor of Wilson and the Ferguson PD in charge. People who are honest about their views realize that the GJ process has been totally rigged in favor of Wilson. There is no other suspect who would ever get so much assistance from the Prosecutor's office in a GJ process. Who needs a defense attorney when you have the Prosecutor's office working for you?

I heard one lawyer say this afternoon that they would love to get the Wilson treatment if they had to go before a GJ.

[MoonRiver]

32. So agree. What has gone down in Ferguson is judical

corruption at its finest.

[PAProgressive28]

23. Livestream

http://new.livestream.com/ASN/events/3603565

[RKP5637]

41. K&R!!! n/t

[logosoco]

24. Thank you for starting this!

I was going to start a post seeing if any St. Louis area people were on here.

This is surreal.
Granted, I usually don't have the "teevee" news on, so that is making things odd tonight.
But all the preparations of the past few days, and now seeing the school closing scroll...it feels like a storm is coming, but it ain't snow.

It is making me sick to see everyone talk about "property, property, property". A young man had his brains blown out in the middle of the street, now is not the time to talk about property!
I am hoping against hope that the tide can change.

It has to start somewhere...

[maced666]

26. Do you have people in St. Louis?

hope they are safe.

[logosoco]

34. I am about 30 miles or so south west.

My mom lives in St. Louis county, about 20 miles from Ferguson.

I was born there and it has been a big part of my and my kids lives.

I'm not worried about my mom, I am worried about our system!

[longship]

25. Okay folks. Why don't we wait for the Grand Jury decision before we set our hair on fire!!

Sheesh! There's already a hidden post here by somebody who apparently is already running around with hair on fire.

Silly.

First, let's see what happens.

[bluestateguy]

27. i think there is a slim chance of a manslaugher indictment

But only a slim chance.

And even then, only a slim chance for an actual conviction at a trial later down the road.

No chance for a murder indictment.

Most likely, though, it will be nothing at all.

[stevenleser]

28. What I don't understand is, I thought you could basically indict a ham sandwich. I don't necessarily

think that being able to indict so easily is a good thing, but if that is what usually happens, why wouldn't it happen here?

[bluestateguy]

31. No that's only for black and Hispanic people caught selling a bag of weed

Or people who lie about getting a blow job in a frivilous lawsuit

[displacedtexan]

35. KRON4 News in San Francisco covered that issue Saturday morning.

Our local legal/political analyst said that prosecuters usually just present the few most damning bits of evidance to a grand jury; hence, the ham sandwich situation. However, evidently this prosecuter presented every single iota of "evidence," both bad and good for the officer, which probably caused the jurors to split on their opinions of each bit of evidence.

This sort of makes sense to me when I consider how freakin' long this GJ is taking.

[Nevernose]

37. In my limited experience

It almost takes more effort NOT to get an indictment than it does to get one.

[MoonRiver]

38. D.A. McCullough has a personal bias in favor of the police.

His father was a police officer who was killed by an African American. A special prosecutor should have been appointed. This whole process has been a sham.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

57. One of the talking head peeps on MSNBC earlier today

said that he had a history of taking police shootings to grand juries, and had NEVER had one come back 'true bill'. That would certainly back up the suggestion of bias.

[bettyellen]

61. they ran this one very differently- allowed leaks, allowed jurors to read the papers, did not

organize a presentation, just threw "all evidence" at jurors, and did not recommend charges, as they normally do.
Usually it appears the prosecutors are trying to prosecute- they were careful NOT to give that impression here.

[Agschmid]

29. Kick.

[99Forever]

36. The feeling of foreboding is palpable.

Having seen the previous actions of the pigs in that state, it's hard to anything but negative things happening.

[displacedtexan]

51. When I was a child, "cop" was an insult to police officers.

La plus ςa change...

[99Forever]

71. I calls 'em like I sees 'em.

These freakin' gangsters with badges are pigs.

[RKP5637]

43. The cops there always look/act like they are looking for any excuse they can to incite

violence so they can play with their toys. It's disgusting, the entire fiasco!

[RKP5637]

47. Frankly, I think your last sentence is probably true for many, they just want to

call it a night and go home.

[Kali]

53. there is dehumanizing on the police side too, you know

and they are the ones with the overwhelming firepower. trying to plead the case of "balance" at this time is kind of disruptive, ya know?

[helpmetohelpyou]

40. My stomach is turning right now

just waiting and watching CNN right now.

Is anyone else just physically feeling weird?

[PAProgressive28]

44. No because I know what's coming

and I know the reaction that's coming. I could write the script at this point. From no indictment to Rush saying something offensive tomorrow it's too predictable.

[Blue_Tires]

46. It needs to be said that having the announcement this late

ESPECIALLY if the jury decision is to no-file, is shockingly negligent and fits too neatly into the speculation that authorities are setting up to make sure "something" happens after predicting full-scale war for the past 6 weeks

[MoonRiver]

49. Upthread, that's what my husband thinks.

And how sick is it if this is true.

[PAProgressive28]

48. Getting bad on the livestream

Guy just said "California bloods" are here.

http://new.livestream.com/ASN/events/3603565

[jwirr]

72. Watched for a bit but it is very confusing. Of course they are angry - they should be but as to what

they are "doing" that is impossible to see. Too many people just moving around.

[nc4bo]

52. Just read a twitter warning there are wolves among the sheep and to becareful.

Of course many already suspect this is the case or has a high likelihood of being true.

Praying for the people of Ferguson.

[PAProgressive28]

55. Livestream went down; camera woman says Internet being shut down

it's back for now though

[nolabear]

56. This is such an incredible historical moment. I don't think the status can now remain quo.

I really hope that the effective leaders in Ferguson have trained and trained and trained the people to protest with strength, resolve and absolute peace. That they rein one another in and help one another mount a smart resistance.

Sending all good thoughts their way.

[bettyellen]

60. ^^This^^

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

59. 9pm, let's hear it... nt

[PAProgressive28]

62. Brown family: No indictment

Per Twitter

[YoungDemCA]

63. 2 minutes?

[moriah]

64. Per USA Today, no indictment

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/24/ferguson-grand-jury-deliberations/19474907/

[blogslut]

65. This man is so arrogant in his condemnation of the public outcry

What an asshole

[avebury]

66. Where is he coming up with some of the BS he is spouting? nt

[librechik]

70. agree--this is gobbledegook

[Brigid]

68. No bill.

Oh Jesus.

[Nevernose]

69. Jesus. The DA just fucking SAID

That Wilson shot an unarmed man twice, chased the unarmed man, and when the unarmed man surrendered, Wilson shot at him five more times.

Because apparently he was punched?

[jwirr]

75. And there is no bill? You cannot kill someone in anger simply because you are a cop. But maybe

you can in MO. Unreal.

[PAProgressive28]

73. Reaction so far is hanging in there

People are holding others back. Saying "don't throw shit or go to the frontlines."

[jwirr]

77. Good. Hold back and get organized. Then all of you sit down wherever you are and ignore the cops.

[pothos]

74. STILL trying to make wilson into a hero

McCulloch said he was on a call at an apartment complex because a 2 month old baby couldn't breathe. What in the fuck does that have to do with ANYTHING?

[PAProgressive28]

76. Situation on the front line

Guy holding angry people back. Angry people saying he's with the cops. Inter-fighting has begun.

[jwirr]

78. They need to listen even if he is a cop. Organize a sit in. Scream yell swear. Get it out but do not

give them the excuse that you started it. That is the excuse they are using for Michaels killing. Remember MLK. Peaceful protest works way better than violence.

[logosoco]

79. My daughter has decided to head out to the Ferguson PD.

She said there is a lot of yelling , which we can hear on the live feeds.

Her dad is sitting here telling me to tell her to come home. I'm worried, but, she is a grown woman and this is her world.

There has been no justice.
Listening to McCulloch made me sick. He basically said it was okay for the cop to shoot to kill. If this is okay with America, we are in worse shape than I thought.

Cops are not above the law. They are not the whole system.

[jwirr]

80. He also said that conflicting evidence was the reason they did not indict. I am confused! I thought

that conflicting evidence is either a reasonable doubt or a conviction. Isn't that what a jury in a regular trial is supposed to decide?

[stevenleser]

82. I'm with you. That's what I thought. A trial, with cross examination, is supposed to help sort

through conflicting information.

[reflection]

83. Yes, you have nailed it.

I am in utter disbelief (not really, but you get it) that this didn't go to trial so all of the conflicting evidence could be hashed out.

Instead, we get "well, it's he said/she said, so fuck it, no sense in indicting."

I weep for this country and what it's become.

[jwirr]

81. That damned police car sitting innocently in front of the police station. Oh, sure. That car was a

decoy to give them permission to put on riot gear etc. No one would leave a car unguarded when they knew full well it would draw anger.

I did not see the second car or how it caught fire but again a target to draw anger. We did not see them walk away from their cars when this all began.

Actually it might have been a decoy to pull anger away from the live police and stores in the area. I so I hope they have a lot of cars to sacrifice.

Thought that President Obama sounded tired. Good speech but tired and somewhat discouraged.

Hopefully there will be some laws like the camera on that will help this situation. They will have to be nationwide because Ferguson MO is not the only place that this has happened.