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"Seven or eight African American eyewitnesses have provided testimony consistent with Wilson’s account, but none have spoken publicly out of fear for their safety, The Post’s sources said."
I realize this comes from an unnamed source, but the Washington Post is a well respected, center-left news outlet. If this was from a politicized source, such as a fringe right-wing website, I would not have started this thread.
Since the shooting of Michael Brown, there has been a lot of discussion about the relationship between African-Americans and law enforcement. One of the recurring themes is that many African-Americans seem to fear the police. They believe that the police already have or may in the future target them because of their race. Many believe that race was a factor in the shooting.
If true, this is a very different story. Apparently, several African-Americans are cooperating with the investigation, but fear retaliation from other African-Americans if they don't stick with the Brown family and their attorney's account of what happened. Based on what we've seen and heard from the protesters in Ferguson and elsewhere, many seem more interested in vengeance rather than justice.
Sorry for starting another Ferguson thread. However, this account underscores the danger of allowing a tragic incident between two people to become representative of something greater.
The New York Times did a story about 'leaks' from the Grand Jury and now the Washington Post does a story. NYT was clear that their information came from the Feds. WashPo and St Louis Media have released the Autopsy reports. They did 3 separate Autopsies and then had even more Forensic experts review them. The Prosecutor brought forward EVERY single person who said they "saw what happened". Wilson was on the stand (with no Lawyer) for 4 hours, was interviewed extensively by the St Louis County Police AND the FBI and DOJ. The DOJ has already said there won't be any Civil Rights charges against Wilson.
A grand jury has a much lower threshold of guilt to recommend indictment. They only need to see sufficient evidence to believe a crime MAY have been committed to go forward with indictment. If this case cannot even meet those low standards after reviewing all of the evidence, then there's no way a jury trial would return a different result where the burden of evidence for guilt is much higher.
Basically, if a grand jury will not indict, then there is no case. Prosecutors will try their stuff before a grand jury first because they know if they cant even get it past them, they got no chance at meeting the "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" standard of a jury trial.
I think the NYT and WashPo stories are a way of trying to soften the blow to the 'peaceful protestors' (rioters) that Wilson is NOT going to be indicted by the Grand Jury. The race baiters pushed this one way too far and they won't be able to control the repercussions of that. Anarchists, Greenies, Peta, Occupy and every Far Left group you can think of has already gotten involved in the Ferguson mess. They will go nuts when the Grand Jury releases their verdict.
Sharpton, Jesse and Bubba Crump all wanted the early facts released that supported their case.
Now they argue it should all be held private because it doesn't.
No sane person was going to publicly conflict with the 'hands up, don't shoot' slogan, so this news isn't a shocker. What will surprise me is if all the media witnesses stuck to their stories when questioned under oath.
"Seven or eight African American eyewitnesses have provided testimony consistent with Wilson’s account, but none have spoken publicly out of fear for their safety, The Post’s sources said."
I realize this comes from an unnamed source, but the Washington Post is a well respected, center-left news outlet. If this was from a politicized source, such as a fringe right-wing website, I would not have started this thread.
Since the shooting of Michael Brown, there has been a lot of discussion about the relationship between African-Americans and law enforcement. One of the recurring themes is that many African-Americans seem to fear the police. They believe that the police already have or may in the future target them because of their race. Many believe that race was a factor in the shooting.
If true, this is a very different story. Apparently, several African-Americans are cooperating with the investigation, but fear retaliation from other African-Americans if they don't stick with the Brown family and their attorney's account of what happened. Based on what we've seen and heard from the protesters in Ferguson and elsewhere, many seem more interested in vengeance rather than justice.
Sorry for starting another Ferguson thread. However, this account underscores the danger of allowing a tragic incident between two people to become representative of something greater.
This is exactly why it shouldn't go to trial if the evidence bears out Officer Wilson's testimony. A jury will be intimidated by the mob and rioting in their town to be able to fairly reach a verdict. This is what happens someone is "convicted" by the media and political groups before there is any evidence presented.
Interesting in that the Brown family has stated they don't trust the police, but they're quick to call 911.
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