On 9 August 2014, an unarmed American teenager, Michael Brown, was shot dead by police officer Darren Wilson. Although there is much dispute around the exact details of the events leading up to the shooting, it is clear that around midday Officer Wilson fired a total of 12 bullets at 18-year old Brown, killing him minutes later. According to Officer Wilson’s account, Brown resisted the officer’s instructions, grappled for his gun and posed a great threat. However, other eye witness accounts describe a less physical struggle between the two men which resulted in Officer Brown drawing his weapon and opening fire. This is the moment Michael Brown is said to have raised his hands in surrender and shout “I don’t have a gun, stop shooting!”.
When news hit the Internet minutes after the incident, the question was sparked; What if he’d been a white teenager? In the first 24 hours alone, 1.4 million tweets about the case hit the web.
Responses to Brown’s death have been vast and widespread, both online and on the streets around the world. Protests throughout August while largely peaceful, were tainted with small incidences of looting and violence on the side of protesters and law enforcement. Police brutality was a focus of online media, particularly the use of pepper spray, sound cannons and police dogs.
Protests quickly spread worldwide. Street campaigns focused on what protesters saw as a crime fuelled by racism and continued police brutality. The slogan “hands up, don’t shoot” was printed on sign posts and social media around the globe. ‘Die-ins’ were held, with members of the public lying in the street for 4.5 minutes, to represent the 4 and half hours Michael Browns body was left to lie in the street. Embassies around the world were flooded with protesters, major roads in Los Angeles were closed down due to mass demonstrations and other protesters from around the world started sending encouragement and tips to protesters over the internet.
Protests continued but violence and media attention started to dissipate while Officer Wilson’s case was reviewed by a grand jury.
However, on 25th of November, a state ruling concluded that Darren Wilson would not be charged with the murder of Michael Brown. The response to the verdict was mixed; President Obama urged the public to respect the verdict while people on both sides of the divide took to the streets and social media in defence of either Wilson or Brown’s case. In a statement made by Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, she called for peaceful protests in a way that could make positive changes; “Let’s not just make noise, let’s make a difference.”
Protesters now hope that the issues raised by Brown’s case will be carried forward and changes will be made. There has been a call for all police officers to wear body cameras in the hope incidents like this will never occur again.
Wilson has now resigned from the Ferguson police department, stating that his continued presence as part of the department could put his fellow police officers and members of the community at risk which, “is a circumstance [he] cannot allow”. In his parting statement, Wilson also expressed the hope that “his resignation will allow the community to heal”.
Tensions in Ferguson and around the world are still high. Demonstrations continue to put emphasis on the Brown case as well as many other unprosecuted deaths of black individuals by white police officers. There are still two ongoing federal investigations concerning possible civil rights violations and a wider inquiry into the Ferguson police department. The results of these investigations will surely be watched closely by many.
The issues raised already have resonated with many and the major hope of all peoples involved must surely be for the creation of a fairer and more protective system for all.
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