The official narrative is already playing out in Missouri. Brown committed a "strong arm robbery." Of course, there is no such crime in the Missouri criminal statutes. They name robbery (taking of property thru the use of force or threat of force) as first degree (use of a weapon) or second (no weapon used). BUT, doesn't STRONG ARM ROBBERY conjure up images more evocative than Robbery in the Second Degree?
Brown certainly committed a robbery. He was stealing and someone tried to stop him, so he pushed that person and intimidated him by lurching toward him. He did not use a closed fist. He did not gratuitously pursue the clerk. He was stealing. The guy tried to stop him, so he forced the guy to let him steal.
What is happening here is, as others have noted, an old story where the victim becomes the the villain. The story, or official framing of the event, starts with MICHAEL BROWN, STRONG ARM ROBBER.
AND THE BUILDING OF THAT OFFICIAL NARRATIVE, WITH ITS PERVERSE FRAMING OF THE KILLING, GOES ON.
Next, we have the "the use of deadly force is justified in those instances in which a person attempts to take an officer's firearm." When does this usually happen? It happens when an officer is struggling with a person. Usually, this is on the street. But, Michael Brown was such an audacious STRONG ARM ROBBER that he tried to --- REACH INTO THE CAR TO GET THE OFFICER'S WEAPON.
So, the narrative will move along indicating that the situation clearly escalated into one where Brown was trying to use "deadly force" against the officer by trying to seize his firearm.
[In a world more reasonable than this, it would be clear that if Brown was involved at all with the officer's weapon, a more sensible explanation is that during a struggle (initiated by whom?), the officer drew his weapon, and Brown decided that he did not want to get shot, so he made a grab for the gun or pushed it away. But, the officer got off a shot. So, what does the audacious STRONG ARM ROBBER do, he turns and literally runs for his life.]
The officer then chases Brown down the street, firing his weapon. "The use of deadly force is allowed to stop the escape of a person believed to be a serious threat to the officer or others." That is how the official narrative will continue. Brown attempted to use deadly force (take the firearm from the officer) so he was obviously a serous threat to the officer or others.
This is a narrative that a jury can be sold. Or a DA can sell to HIS grand jury.
The only thing that may hang the officer is if the autopsy provides evidence that Brown had surrendered but the officer kept firing. All those eye witnesses (one of them another STRONG ARM ROBBER) will probably mean dick. They are, after all, African Americans like Brown, who hate the police, so you can't trust THEM.
All this is why the Ferguson police have orchestrated the release of information in the way they have. No information about shots fired. No information about injuries. No incident report. Just
1. STRONG ARM ROBBERY
2. GUN GRAB
3. OFFICER TREATED FOR INJURIES
4. JUSTIFIED USE OF DEADLY FORCE
So. the DA can set the stage for HIS grand jury going to #5
5. NO INDICTMENT
The Feds may try to get the officer for "violating Brown's 14th amendment rights." Even if they do, that will not show anyone that a young black man, his family, and his community can expect justice from the people around them.
The family could bring a civil suit, but there are no real deep pockets here to be pillaged until they hurt. And, civil suits are largely acts of individuals against individuals. They are no offer of justice, just compensation.
Maybe I am being too cynical. From the signs I see, I doubt it. But, if Rick Perry can be indicted in Texas, maybe there is enough justice swirling around loose out there in the cosmos for some to fall on Ferguson, Missouri. I hope so.
To the Browns: I am so sorry you lost Michael. Fill the hole in your hearts left by his loss with your best memories of him.
To the community of Ferguson: I am sorry you don't have the police force and prosecutors that you deserve. For you, TO PROTECT AND SERVE are empty words.
To the rest of us: Remember, this kind of thing happens every day in the USA. Let's use this sad moment as a catalyst to rekindle our sense of outrage, our feelings of empathy, and our commitment to make America the place we want it to be--the place it promised to be.