When I last wrote about the Ferguson Missouri situation, it seemed that the conflict was drawing to a close. Turns out, that was super not what happened. It’s worth considering where we are now and how we got here.
Last Thursday, as things looked like they were going to explode, Governor Jay Nixon ordered State Police to take over security from the Ferguson PD. Capt. Ronald S. Johnson was appointed to head up the operation, he grew up in the area and, unlike all but three Ferguson police, he’s black. Johnson immediately made headlines and calmed tensions by marching with protestors and ordering his state troopers to leave behind their gas masks. That night was calm.
On Friday morning, Ferguson Police held a press conference where they identified officer Darren Wilson as the shooter. They also released footage of Michael Brown sealing cigars from a convenience store shortly before his death. It turns out that Wilson was not responding to the theft and knew nothing about that offense at the time of the shooting.
Over the weekend, Ferguson police took charge of nighttime security and the Governor ordered a midnight curfew, that didn’t work. Clashes continued and now the national guard has been called in and the curfew has been lifted.
Though the official report has not been released, a private autopsy of Michael Brown showed that he was shot 6 times, with the bullets entering through the front of his body. Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered a third autopsy and an independent investigation of the shooting.
Last night saw continued conflict with lots of tear gas and at least two shootings, neither attributed to police.
Some of the best overview and commentary comes from John Oliver:
As always, Twitter is the place to follow all things Ferguson by using the #ferguson hashtag:
The post Ferguson recap 8/19/14, autopsy, tear gas & John Oliver’s take appeared first on Portland Press Herald Contributors.