The Grand Jury to which evidence will be presented regarding the killing of Michael Brown reflects the racial makeup of St. Louis County, which is about 23% according to the 2010 census.
CLAYTON • The grand jury that is hearing evidence in the Michael Brown shooting death has one black man and two black women on the panel, and six white men and three white women.
The Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the grand jury had three black people, but the gender information is new. The gender information was supplied by Paul Fox, director of judicial administration for St. Louis County Circuit Court.
Post Dispatch
The Grand Jury was one that was already sitting and was not convened for this particular case. But the Prosecutor controls the evidence presented. I'm glad DOJ also can bring a case.
A personal note. I am appalled by the reaction of some whites to this. There still is so much hate and racism. Even people I would expect to be better, they want to buy the lies about the incident. White people have to confront our past and our present. Yes, you are not responsible for slavery, but you are responsible to act in a decent manner, to help make things better now. I get down, but then I think of folks like Mary Engelbreit, the Queen of Cuteness, drawing a picture and giving the proceeds to the Michael Brown Memorial Fund. There are a few good whites, but they are too few. Many just get scared and say nothing. Just basic decency is needed, which is subversive in our still racist society. Mary showed that, and probably lost a lot of customers for her art.
Saw today that white racists raised $200,000 for the killer cop. God damn all who gave money to what was a police lynching.
Chris King, who is African American and Editor of the St. Louis American, a historic (and still) African American run newspaper, tweeted the following this morning, which I saw on Antonio French's tweets (and I'm not on twitter -- you can get them on the internet through google):
Retweeted by Antonio French
Chris King @chriskingstl · 4h
We are stronger and more connected as a community. It's time to reinforce this new integration & awareness & not forget what happened.
Retweeted by Antonio French
Chris King @chriskingstl · 4h
We're now back to where we began before outside agitators provoked the looting, shaming and militarized response: ground zero.
Retweeted by Antonio French
Chris King @chriskingstl · 4h
At this point nothing has been achieved except the community rooted out the outside agitators & eased the militarization of police response.
Retweeted by Antonio French
Chris King @chriskingstl · 4h
The police who responded so enthusiastically to the chance to respond against American citizens w/ military force still have police jobs.
Antonio French on Twitter
African Americans here and their allies are just stating to put the pressure on. You may not see it on TV every night, but people here are fighting for justice.
Percy Green, who has long been an activist here (he climbed the Arch in 1965 while it was being built to protest the lack of jobs for blacks on that project. Labor lawyers will recognize him, the Supreme Court in Green v. McDonald Douglas set up the burden shifting in discrimination cases), anyway, he said that this was “long overdue” and inevitable.”
Green said a “raw nerve” was exposed by Brown’s death on Aug. 9 because many blacks — even those with no police records — know what it means to be harassed by police.
Ferguson can help the healing process by taking certain steps, Green said, including hiring officers from the city, and requiring current officers to move to Ferguson within six months. Officers, he added, should be subject to psychological testing. Green also advocates use of civilian review boards as a check on police power.
St, Louis Post-Dispatch
And you white folks who want to think this is only St. Louis, try talking to black folks in your community. You just might find a situation that is “long overdue” and "inevitable” in your community. Racism is as American as motherhood and apply pie, and only whites can truly end it. First, we have to look deep into ourselves and change what is needed inside us. Second, we have to confront racism and ally with black people who are doing the same.
Here is why white people, and I am included, must show some courage and confront racism:
Retweeted by Antonio French
nurseBOOM @emilyBOOMBOOM · 12h
My mom asked me why I was crying after I left #ferguson , all I could say was "my son is black. My BABY is black & someone hates him"