Robert Patrick
@rxpatrick
Police officer who shot #MikeBrown has retained a lawyer. #Ferguson
@rxpatrick
Police officer who shot #MikeBrown has retained a lawyer. #Ferguson
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Shouldn't there be video or at least audio to the altercation? It will be interested to see whose story that will corroborate.
The officer's car didn't have a dash cam. According to the police chief they got money for them this year. They have them and are installing them in cars in their garage. They couldn't afford to have an outside firm install them, implying that would have been a quicker roll out.
http://deadspin.com/america-is-not-for- ... 1620169913
(middle of the article)
(middle of the article)
"There's a long history of racial tension and misunderstanding in this region," St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Aisha Sultan told me over the phone yesterday. "Especially on the north side."
This sort of thing—especially on the north side—is what gets glossed over a little too easily when we try to fit a particular incident into a broader narrative. Ferguson is a small town of 21,000, mostly white until the 1960s, when whites fled anywhere but where they were. Today, Ferguson, which is a bit north of St. Louis, is mostly black; Ferguson and St. Louis County police are mostly white. That fits a metropolitan area flanked by two rivers that divide neighborhoods and regions by race, the sixth-most segregated in the United States.
To people, like me, from the coast—I'm from Maryland—St. Louis can seem like a blank in the the middle of the country, a place where people and even ideas get stuck on the way to somewhere better, or at least somewhere else. But St. Louis is like New York (the fourth-most segregated metro in America), or Los Angeles, or Miami, or Dallas, or Washington, DC, only more so. Far from a blank, St. Louis is often regarded as the most American of America's cities.
"It is a microcosm of the rest of the country," Sultan said. "If this can happen in St. Louis, it can happen in any city."
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^ So much for the theory that Ferguson, not St. Louis as a whole, is going to have an image problem on a national scale.
At least Sultan's comments highlight the idea that it's a national issue- not just a local or regional crisis.
At least Sultan's comments highlight the idea that it's a national issue- not just a local or regional crisis.
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Its not really intended as a complement in the context, but i kind of like it. In some ways I agree, St. Louis is an American microcosm only if you neglect the asian and hispanic migration waves that happened every where else in the last few decades....Far from a blank, St. Louis is often regarded as the most American of America's cities.
- "A fifth witness has come forward, at the scene the whole time...Dorian's willingness to speak publicly was the spark and encouraged them all"
Very interesting piece of information there... Not sure how to embed tweets or else I would.
Very interesting piece of information there... Not sure how to embed tweets or else I would.
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No city is immune to any of these types of acts thats the fact. Saint.Louis is no different what goes on in Detroit Oakland SF NYC Miami etc. This could & will happen anywhere in the country or world.
The one thing that bothers me about all of this is how blacks unite against cops but can't unite to get one of their own crooked criminals off the streets.
One thing that needs to stop is the labeling of people. I believe labeling another person just enhances the very aspect of prejudice's.
We're all Americans not White american Not African american etc we're Americans & until we all grow up & stop labeling each other then none of this will never go away in our very own country.
Violence/retaliation will never solve anything
The one thing that bothers me about all of this is how blacks unite against cops but can't unite to get one of their own crooked criminals off the streets.
One thing that needs to stop is the labeling of people. I believe labeling another person just enhances the very aspect of prejudice's.
We're all Americans not White american Not African american etc we're Americans & until we all grow up & stop labeling each other then none of this will never go away in our very own country.
Violence/retaliation will never solve anything
^^ I agree that this could happen to any city, but the fact that it's happening in the St. Louis area should shape how we think about the deeper issues at hand. Understanding St. Louis's particular legacy of racial animosity can give some valuable historical perspective when we think about WHY all of this is happening.
I'm also not sure about stopping the labeling of people. That reminds me of people who say we should be "colorblind" and stop thinking about race, as if by doing that racism will go away. I don't think that's wise or productive.
And tonight, yet again, the images and video coming out of Ferguson right now are more than a little disturbing. Why have SWAT teams and 50+ officers telling peaceful protestors to disperse during the daytime? I think the most important thing to do right now is de-escalate the situation and reduce tensions, not inflame them by having a massive show of force, giving people conflicted and seemingly arbitrary orders, etc. Nothing good can come of this, especially when night falls.
I'm also not sure about stopping the labeling of people. That reminds me of people who say we should be "colorblind" and stop thinking about race, as if by doing that racism will go away. I don't think that's wise or productive.
And tonight, yet again, the images and video coming out of Ferguson right now are more than a little disturbing. Why have SWAT teams and 50+ officers telling peaceful protestors to disperse during the daytime? I think the most important thing to do right now is de-escalate the situation and reduce tensions, not inflame them by having a massive show of force, giving people conflicted and seemingly arbitrary orders, etc. Nothing good can come of this, especially when night falls.
Police actions have been totally unconscionable tonight. Causing utter chaos.
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French has been arrested and currently in Ferguson jail.... 
You know French will raise hell over this, and it's undoubtedly justified.
I don't think anything that has happened in this entire clusterf*ck has been "entirely justified."jstriebel wrote:You know French will raise hell over this, and it's undoubtedly justified.
You are really betraying your deep emnity for Alderman French by basically implying he must have done something to warrant him going to jail. "Unlawful assembly" is typically a charge thrown at people to silence them.
^ I think he meant French's anger would be undoubtedly justified.
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It all starts with parenting if parents aren't willing to tell their children about the world & the difference's between people & race then this is what you are going to get.
Labeling induces & encourages prejudices doesn't mean being color blind. Understanding a person beyond black white latino is hard for everyone cause we all instead of saying I'm american we say I'm black I'm white I'm latino I'm this I'm that.
Theres just not prejudice's against race but prejudice's are all over the realm from over weight too skinny birth defect too short too tall too old too young gay bi sexual etc.
Im using this as an example .
We have to teach ourselves whats right whats wrong.
From what i see that's been happening is everything thats wrong with people.
I lived in Ferguson from '96 till about 2003
I could feel a bit of the racial tensions. I remember being threaten to be shot cause i'm gay & these were young black kids, but did that make think any less of blacks hell no cause whites & whatever could do the very same.
I have nothing against anyone it's all about how your parents raised you & if today's parents aren't willing to put forth the effort of being real true parent's then this is what the results will be anywhere in this country..
Teach kids diversity in schools kids in this country should also be required to take a diversity education class including different languages so they can learn the differences not only in our country but around the world...
Labeling induces & encourages prejudices doesn't mean being color blind. Understanding a person beyond black white latino is hard for everyone cause we all instead of saying I'm american we say I'm black I'm white I'm latino I'm this I'm that.
Theres just not prejudice's against race but prejudice's are all over the realm from over weight too skinny birth defect too short too tall too old too young gay bi sexual etc.
Im using this as an example .
We have to teach ourselves whats right whats wrong.
From what i see that's been happening is everything thats wrong with people.
I lived in Ferguson from '96 till about 2003
I could feel a bit of the racial tensions. I remember being threaten to be shot cause i'm gay & these were young black kids, but did that make think any less of blacks hell no cause whites & whatever could do the very same.
I have nothing against anyone it's all about how your parents raised you & if today's parents aren't willing to put forth the effort of being real true parent's then this is what the results will be anywhere in this country..
Teach kids diversity in schools kids in this country should also be required to take a diversity education class including different languages so they can learn the differences not only in our country but around the world...
I have been told by locals in the area that Asians are feeling tensions in the UCity area of Olive from African Americans. The gist of it that African Americans resent the influx of Asians. Can anyone expand/explain/dispute this claim?
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^i'm not surprised. What we've seen on the news is scary. Not just the what the police are doing but the riots and retaliation from the protesters turned mob. I'm afraid the unintended consequence is more divisiveness.
What are others reading from friends/acquaintances on social media or hearing from friends or coworkers around the water cooler?
What are others reading from friends/acquaintances on social media or hearing from friends or coworkers around the water cooler?
I don't quite understand... What or who exactly are the police protecting? Seems like most of this would go away if the police would just disperse.
Also, I bet the CITY police are loving this! "Fack, glad that is not us!"
Also, I bet the CITY police are loving this! "Fack, glad that is not us!"
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I think the city does a better job of civic engagement and having a force that looks demographically like the city itself.
Also, not tending to give a hoot about some jaywalkers sparking an incident.
Also, not tending to give a hoot about some jaywalkers sparking an incident.
At this point the job of the police in Ferguson is to protect the residents and business owners of Ferguson. I would like to hear their thoughts on whether they believe law enforcement's approach has been too strong or too weak. It is their community, they are the stakeholders, and it is their opinion that should count. Unfortunately they are getting lost in this whole mess. From what I know these are great people who have been working extremely hard over the last decade to improve their city.
To personalize this, if these protests and riots were happening in my neighborhood I would be concerned with my family, my property, my neighbors, and the businesses that make up my community...In that order. I could give a sh*t less what national reporters or the alderman from another city think or are experiencing because once the dust settles they no longer have skin in the game.
To personalize this, if these protests and riots were happening in my neighborhood I would be concerned with my family, my property, my neighbors, and the businesses that make up my community...In that order. I could give a sh*t less what national reporters or the alderman from another city think or are experiencing because once the dust settles they no longer have skin in the game.
Its mostly hype. If one African-American says something negative about an Asian then everybody thinks that defines the relationships between all Asians and African-Americans? What are the tensions? If there were tensions half of the Chinese restaurants and hair shops in St. Louis would be out of business, because most of their patrons are African-American. What I will says is that many Asian and Arab store owners treat African-Americans badly when they come in their stores and this is a nationwide phenomenon. I personally think the solution to many of these problems is to promote entrepreneurship and real economic development in African-American communities, people are less likely to riot if they feel they have a legitimate stake in their communities.moorlander wrote:^i'm not surprised. What we've seen on the news is scary. Not just the what the police are doing but the riots and retaliation from the protesters turned mob. I'm afraid the unintended consequence is more divisiveness.
What are others reading from friends/acquaintances on social media or hearing from friends or coworkers around the water cooler?
I somewhat agree. Why the centralized area with the big show of weaponry? They are supposed to be preventing rioting and looting correct? I would think this would be better served if they spread out and stationed officers outside of businesses over night. Their approach seems like it is only escalating the situation.I don't quite understand... What or who exactly are the police protecting? Seems like most of this would go away if the police would just disperse.
SPOT ON!! But I would like to add that St. Louis consistently has one of the highest-percentages of black-owned businesses and start-ups in the country besting some of the larger metros - according to Black Enterprise Magazine's measurements.goat314 wrote:Its mostly hype. If one African-American says something negative about an Asian then everybody thinks that defines the relationships between all Asians and African-Americans? What are the tensions? If there were tensions half of the Chinese restaurants and hair shops in St. Louis would be out of business, because most of their patrons are African-American. What I will says is that many Asian and Arab store owners treat African-Americans badly when they come in their stores and this is a nationwide phenomenon. I personally think the solution to many of these problems is to promote entrepreneurship and real economic development in African-American communities, people are less likely to riot if they feel they have a legitimate stake in their communities.
The largest African-American business in the nation is HQ'd in St. Louis (Maryland Heights), which is World Wide Technology. The problem in St. Louis is its piss-poor economy. It has seen working-class jobs dwindle due to de-industrialization and poor local leadership that did not plan wisely for the global economy - likely because of the good ol' boy business mindset in St. Louis.
Also, although I think some of this discussion (not you personally, goat314) is a deflection (or deflects) from the overall unrest in Ferguson, why do some people suggest African-Americans have issues with Asians instead of Asians having issues with African-Americans, when in fact African-American/Asian tension is a two-way street. Actually, African-Americans are not jealous of Asian success and economic power. However, it is about how some Asian business owners treat African-Americans patronizing some of their businesses. I am solidly middle-class and I have been mistreated a few times, which I won't get into, at different Asian businesses. For the most part, I have had no problems. And I am sure most blacks could say the same.
Nonetheless, it's amazing to me how African-Americans seem to be the group always pegged to be the "antagonists" in interracial (or even gay) relationships tensions. Unfortunately, members of every group - including religious groups - brings bias of other groups to the table.
At the end of the day, people have the right to free assembly, press and protest in Ferguson. They don't have the right to riot and loot. BUT Ferguson is not an island. If you lived in Ferguson, you'd have to deal with it until it was over.robertn42 wrote:To personalize this, if these protests and riots were happening in my neighborhood I would be concerned with my family, my property, my neighbors, and the businesses that make up my community...In that order. I could give a sh*t less what national reporters or the alderman from another city think or are experiencing because once the dust settles they no longer have skin in the game.