In a long string of fatal police officer shootings of unarmed AA teenagers, Michaels Browns fatal shooting, the failure of a Grand Jury to find probable cause to indict the officer responsible and the subsequent protests, got me thinking that now seems like a good time for a quick look back at WCC history that will or should land exactly where deserved without even taking aim.
Why the old adage that a Grand Jury could "indict a ham sandwich" is not what happened In Ferguson Missuori and in some towns perhaps has never followed that old saying - not really for some folks.
The White Citizen Council; a segregationist outfit that not too long ago, former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour was praising as the way 'things got taken care of peacefully'
Some history that draws parallels between the White Citizens Council to that of a "Blue Ribbon" Grand Jury:
Years ago, there used to be what were called "blue ribbon grand juries." These were grand juries that were made up of "prominent" people in the community, such as doctors, lawyers, and successful businessmen. Blue ribbon grand juries were usually convened to investigate particular problems--like official corruption--in a community.
"Blue Ribbon" panels that have since changed to what we have nowadays, but maybe not enough:
Unlike a petit jury, which resolves a particular civil or criminal cases, a grand jury (typically having twenty-three or more members) serves as a group for a sustained period of time in all or many of the cases that come up in the jurisdiction, generally under the supervision of a federal U.S. attorney, a county district attorney, or a state attorney-general and hears evidence ex parte (i.e. without suspect or person of interest involvement in the proceedings).
- emphasis added
Changed, except of course the part about:
(i.e. without suspect or person of interest involvement in the proceedings) with Darren Wilson right in the center of Mo.
Grand Jury proceedings testifying on his own behalf
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The something else:
Lawrence O’Donnell completely takes apart the so-called “prosecuting” District attorney McCulloch’s chosen and only quoted witness during the press release of Ferguson Missouri Grand Jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson.
Witness number 10; the only witness whose "adjusted" testimony that corroborated officer Darren Wilsons cover story for the murder of Michael Brown. Here is the link to the excellent de-bunking video (new format non-embeddable by me - sorry)
“He never put his hands up” …”He ran towards the officer full charge”
“He ran towards the officer full charge”. The only witness that was quoted by the prosecutor in charge - McCulloch. The witness that also changed his statement he had previously given to the police when he testified before the Grand Jury.
His statement to the police put himself at 100 yards from the fatal shooting incident, yet his testimony before the Grand Jury cut that distance down to a 50 yards on the low end
There were several witnesses who were much closer to the crime scene and whose testimony de-bunked officer Wilsons story. Testimony that prosecutor McCulloch did not see fit to quote in his statement announcing to the public that there was no probable cause to indict officer Darren Wilson for shooting and killing Michael Brown. Piaget Crenshaw whose cell recording of the fatal shooting was confiscated by the police. Tiffany Mitchell who was standing 20 feet away from the crime. (several video interviews of witnesses @ link) Dorian Johnson who was inches away when the first shot was fired.
There was also this deviation from law:
A Deadly force statute which was ruled unconstitutional in 1985 (Tennesse v Garner 471 U.S. 1) was entered into the Grand Jury instructions, to be later corrected (with a concise explanation from Law professor Justin Hansford @ minute 4:00 on the use of deadly force on a fleeing suspect in this video here).
Held: The Tennessee statute is unconstitutional insofar as it authorizes the use of deadly force against, as in this case, an apparently unarmed, nondangerous fleeing suspect; such force may not be used unless necessary to prevent the escape and the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. Pp. 497 U. S. 7-22.
- Emphasis added
https://supreme.justia.com/...
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So; Nothing earthshattering or that would 'incite violence' amongst those this brief look back into an earlier time would deservedly land on of course, just a look back at how certain groups of citizens were allowed, or rather believed they were born in possession of a privileged status empowering them with the 'Right' to police other citizens. (statements & white privilege analysis on AA's being regularly policed by whites from Joy Ann Reid @ link)
That aspect of what's is happening in this country needs to be brought out in the open - imo
I know a Grand Jury is not a Citizens Council technically, legally or otherwise, but not being a lawyer I'm finding it hard to see the difference.
Got to run some errands and will be back in a few - Thank you for stopping by and best wishes too :)