By John W. Lillpop
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced that former police officer Darren Wilson would NOT face criminal prosecution for his role in the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri last August.
As reported:
In the criminal investigation, federal officials concluded Wilson’s actions “do not constitute prosecutable violations under the applicable federal criminal rights statute.”
Specifically, the DOJ said there was “no evidence” to disprove Wilson’s testimony that he feared for his safety, nor was there reliable evidence that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was shot.”
Thus ends the racially charged vendetta against an innocent police officer that was simply doing his job. Apparently, Wilson’s greatest mistake was being a white man in law enforcement.
The entire Ferguson matter should be the subject of a presidential decree titled, “Tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri: A Teachable Moment about Due Process.”
Americans must not be allowed to forget, or gloss over, the ugly facts surrounding the Ferguson tragedy and the wild, public hysteria created when some community members disagreed with the Grand Jury findings, and, without benefit of proven facts, took to the streets in angry protest.
Angry protesters marched and chanted, “What do we want? Darren Wilson! How do we want him? Dead!”
Given their druthers, these protesters would have murdered an innocent police officer, despite the facts.
How is such thinking different from the evil schemes executed by white racists who lynched blacks in the dark days of slavery and Jim Crow atrocities?
Americans must also remember that some ill-advised leaders in government and the community issued intemperate remarks, which kindled the flames of civil unrest and racial enmity.
Al Sharpton, Eric Holder, and even Barack Obama made remarks which, at the very least, suggested that white police were wrong and that the “gentle giant” known as Michael Brown was murdered without cause.
Always on the prowl for examples of perceived white prejudice and racist-based crime, the mainstream media served as a willing and able conduit for transmission of false narratives. The “Hands-up, Don’t Shoot!” lie was repeated daily in the media…a falsehood that the recent DOJ report exposes as a blatant falsehood.
In an extraordinary violation of decency, the New York Times violated it’s “All the News Fit to Print” mantra by publishing the home address of Darren Wilson at a time when Wilson was very much the subject of death threats!
Given the facts now known, how was the New York Times anything but complicit in behavior intended to deprive Darren Wilson of the presumption of innocence and due process?
In sum, the Ferguson tragedy must be remembered as an ugly chapter in American history based on racial discrimination, race baiting, political opportunism, media malfeasance, and unchecked ignorance.
Sounds like a perfect candidate for a “Teachable Moment,” wouldn’t you agree Mr. President?
