Protests in Ferguson, Missouri

[Philly]

Typically it's narrow incident that gives emotional fire to a larger issue so this is very understandable.

[eynon81]

[jimmyz]

[Mr.Bill]

[Philly]

[fstarcstar]

[Philly]

[jimmyz]

[uebermann]

There's a possible twist in the "robbery" video. Supposedly (and I say supposedly because I cannot find verification of this on any of the major news sites), he did pay for the cigars and the altercation wasn't due to him robbing.

http://aattp.org/ferguson-cops-busted-n ... los-video/

The claim is that none of the store employees called in a robbery and a person in the store called it in thinking it was (when it wasn't).

[Philly]

I think the robbery (or apparently the possible non-robbery) is really a red herring. The point of it being pushed out as it had been was to put this kid's character on trial and move discussion away from how exactly he was shot multiple times by a police officer (who knew nothing about the alleged robbery). To me, it's very reminiscent of the "Trayvon Martin smoked weed!" distractions in the Zimmerman case. And by the way, I think it was appropriate to acquit Zimmerman on insufficient evidence, but I'm still displeased with the way the deceased's character is put on trial in the media whenever we have one of these cases.

At this point, I also want to note that a few pages back I was mocked for insisting on calling Brown a "robbery suspect" rather than a a robber. Well, this is why we have due process and I refer to people accused of crimes as suspects unless/until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And now, no matter what else we hear or see on the matter, Brown was only a suspect, since he was killed before he could even be charged, nevermind receiving due process.