More evidence is emerging supporting Ferguson officer Darren Wilson’s claims in the shooting of Michael Brown. The most recent story states that Brown did not have his hands up in the air, as supporters have long claimed, when he was shot. The image of people holding her hands in the air has become the unifying symbol of case and the new evidence represents a new contradiction of the account of Brown’s friend, Dorian Johnson, who insisted that Brown was not shot in a struggle in the car and was shot with his hands in the air.
The fatal encounter between Wilson and Brown occurred shortly after Brown committed a strong arm robbery of a store owner in stealing some cigars:
However, Brown was unarmed when he was shot and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon quickly called for the prosecution of Wilson and referred to Brown as the victim and Eric Holder ordered a massive federal investigation of the shooting as a civil rights violation before the completion of the local investigation.
Much of the anger stemmed from the account of Johnson. As discussed earlier, the evidence indicates that Wilson was suffered some injuries in a struggle and that, consistent with his account, Brown was shot at close quarters, his blood was on the service weapon. The evidence also reportedly supports the claim that the gun was discarded within the car in a struggle.
Regardless of how one reads this evidence, it is another cautionary tale in rushing to judgment in such cases before the investigation is completed. The involvement of politicians and protesters in immediately demanding prosecution can have a highly distortive effect on such cases. There has been an immediate and negative response to any suggestions of evidence supporting the officer in this controversy. The fact is that this controversy — and subsequent rioting — was based on the account of Johnson and very early (and contested) stories of what occurred. As I have previously discussed, while the looting and rioting was not their fault, it was highly improper for politicians to assign guilt before the completion of even the initial investigation.
Wilson reportedly testified before the Grand Jury that he pulled over in his SUV to talk to Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson about the theft of cigarillos. He said that when tried to get out, Brown slammed the door shut and punched him in the face. He just that, when he reached for his weapon, Brown grabbed it and it was pointing for a time at Wilson in the struggling. He said that it was in this struggle that Brown was shot in the hand. He said that he then chased after Brown who allegedly turned and ran toward him. Wilson testified that he told him to stop and then fired. He said that when Wilson continued, he fired more shots.
The independent experts hired by the Post-Dispatch said that they believed that the evidence supported Wilson on some critical points and that a significant struggle occurred in direct and irreconcilable conflict with the account of Johnson. Forensic pathologist from San Francisco, Dr. Judy Melinek, said that Brown’s palms could not have been facing Wilson in the standard surrender position – with hands up and palms out – when he was shot. While other scenarios could explain the evidence and there is still the question of why so many shots were fired (even if the officer’s account is true), there may remain considerable conflicts in the original account.
Those conclusions would seem to support growing view that the Obama Administration also found insufficient evidence to support any federal charge in the shooting and is leaking stories to prepare people for the closing of the investigation.
Source: CBS
The struggle for the gun between Brown and Wilson is somewhat symbolic of the greater struggle over who gets to control this weaponized, administrative state. That might begin to explain the liberal’s fear about the upcoming midterms; especially if they’ve rationalized social justice is more important than the rule of law.
These threads are not much different than in similarr countries, like England.
A noted expert on the history of American slavery, which is recent enough that good cameras had been invented to take pictures of them Symbolic Racism: A Look At The Science – 7, wrote another book about it.
The English publication “Economist” took exception to the book, and attacked its author, Edward E. Baptist.
The commenters in that thread ate them up so the Economist retracted the post and apologized (How slavery haunts today’s America).
Sometimes some of that is done here too isn’t it?
I do like the food side road, SWM. Food helps calm the senses.
KarenS, I laugh every time I see that Rock video. The man speaks truth. The truth you hear from almost all black folk, except the Al Sharpton’s, the only black guy many white people ever hear.
Nick – speaking of ‘black folk’ if you haven’t watched “black-ish” give it a try. Very funny. It is about the very different levels of being black today.
Trips abroad on the government dime must be nice too. Back pay from Social Security can be used however one sees fit, no judgment.
SWM, Minneapolis has a GREAT restaurant scene. I had a very good meal @ Al Vento. That’s the only Italian restaurant I’ve tried. There are just so many other great ones of different cuisines. My daughter loves Lucia’s, and we plan on going during Christmas.
Government cheese.
The time for Michael Brown’s parents to worry about him was before he started robbing Quickie Marts.
Eyetalians love cheese.
And here is a apropos 2012 Public Service Announcement by Chris Rock on “How Not to Get Your A%%^ Kicked by the Police”
SWM, LOL! The best pizza place in Madison, Pizza di Roma, is owned by Albanians. Funny story. I have a friend who is a retired sportswriter in Pa. He was drafted out of college during the 70’s. Luckily for him, he has a gift for language. He was taught Albanian and put in a listening post in Europe, translating intercepted Albanian military transmissions. I had him teach me this phrase, and I only know it phonetically. “What the f@ck do Albanians know about making pizza?” These guys laughed their asses off when I walked in and said it. They then started speaking Albanian and I said, “Whoa, I just said all I know.” These guys are really like Italians in demeanor. We get along great and they always load it up for me. Sometimes I have to back them off. These constipated bozo cheeseheads like 5lbs. of cheese on a slice of pizza. W/ cheeseheads, it’s all about MORE. They LOVE all you can eat deals. And they can put on the feed bag. The paleo diet was short lived here. Some tried it and then ballooned up even bigger.
Once people make up their minds, out of emotion rather than facts, it is very difficult to reason with them.
It sounds like at least the initial shots were a justified shooting. We still need to determine if the rest of the shots fired were because Brown was charging, and Wilson just emptied his magazine rapidly, or if there was a moment when it was pure adrenaline that fired the last few shots.
Boy, this would have been really awkward if that mob had gotten what they wanted, which was Darren Wilson’s murder. Well, oops. But it’s all OK, folks, for a mob to chant for someone’s murder because the officer was Caucasian.
I wonder how people who refuse to believe the evidence would feel if they were in a similar position as Officer Wilson. If they claimed they were innocent, the evidence thus far exonerated them, and yet the media, Internet, and mobs of people were chanting for their death, prosecute them even though the evidence does not support it, and sentence them without a trial. Or is it “one way for thee, another for me?” Are laws to protect only some people?
The only way to be fair is to discuss the evidence as it comes out, as well as the final report.
I feel sad for Brown’s parents, who must be going through a roller coaster. First their son was executed, now it looks like he attacked a police officer. How did things go so wrong for their son that he went down that road travelled by too many of our youth? We have ENOUGH of our young men and women rotting in jail, potential gone, and chances ruined. Talk to your kids NOW about right and wrong, the consequences of hanging out with a bad crowd, crime, and how to properly handle a police interaction. (Hint: it does NOT involve punching a cop or grappling for his gun.)
When we moved from Chicago to Minneapolis, we did encounter culture shock. The Italian food was terrible. There was one really bad Italian restaurant named DiNapoli downtown. I learned to be a pretty good Italian cook. Now Minnesota has decent Italian food but it does not rival Chicago.
Jack, Dago Hill is one of the few enclaves in the Midwest. That’s where Yogi and Garagiola grew up, as you know. I’ve played bocce, eaten and drank there. Got several good friends from StL. One worked @ Charlie Gito’s as a high schooler. I ask him why they hired a Shanty Irishman. The near southside and west side of Chicago have enclaves. KC a very small one, the same w/ Madison. But, I grew up where there were many Italians assimilated throughout the communities. It’s just different in the Midwest. Wi., Eyetalians were ridiculed by the other ethnicities, Irish being the worst. Many Eyety’s shortened their names. Dick Bennett, the college b-ball coach, is really Dick Benedetto. First generation Eyetalians, as almost everyone says here in bumpkin Wi., had a self loathing. The second generation have reawakened Italian pride. And, Dago Hill is what it is called to this day. No PC w/ me, Jack.
Nick – our HOA paid 40k to build two bocce courts. Maybe I will get around to playing this year. 🙂 If I can figure out the game. As best I can tell you have a beer in one hand and a ball in the other, but that is as far as I have gotten.
SWM, it was probably the seasoning “Vegeta”, used throughout the country that was once known as Yugoslavia. Distinctive flavor.
Most of the “Italian” restaurants were owned by people from Kosovo in DFW. The food had a distinct flavor. My friend from NYC and I would joke about it.
Texas, the Eyetaly of the South!
“I don’t know one person in Wisconsin that says “Eyetalian”. Annie. They do serve “eyetalian” food in Texas. I think Duluth has more Italians than Dallas. There was one small grocery store.
The pig will fly away from justice on fellow pig wings.
Annie – it is a regionalism.