In case there's anyone left who wants to insist that these wristbands weren't real, I think the fact that the DOJ has issued a cease and desist to the Ferguson PD should serve as proof that they were.
Christy Lopez, deputy chief of the special litigation section of DOJ's Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson on Friday indicating that Jackson had agreed to prohibit Ferguson officers from wearing "I am Darren Wilson" bracelets while in uniform and on duty. The letter said Jackson had said he would make sure the other municipal agencies working in Ferguson would prohibit their officers from wearing the bracelets as well.
Lopez said St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar and Missouri Highway Patrol Ron Replogle had indicated to Justice Department officials they also would ban the bracelets.
"These bracelets reinforce the very 'us versus them' mentality that many residents of Ferguson believe exists," Lopez wrote in the letter.
In a separate communication, the DOJ also addressed reports that police ( Ferguson PD or from other municipalities helping out in Ferguson) continued not to wear name badges.
"Officers wearing name plates while in uniform is a basic component of transparency and accountability. It is a near-universal requirement of sound policing practices and required under some state laws," the letter to Jackson states. "Allowing officers to remain anonymous when they interact with the public contributes to mistrust and undermines accountability. The failure to wear name plates conveys a message to community members that, through anonymity, officers may seek to act with impunity."
Short diary but steps in the right direction. I suspect DOJ involvement is what led to an apology finally coming from Police Chief Jackson to Michael Brown's family. Too little. Too late but better late than never I suppose.
This letter can be read here
NOTE: Need to step away for a bit so will be back in comments later