Michael Brown Funeral - The decision of the grand jury not to prosecute a Ferguson police officer for shooting an unarmed teen has slammed the hopes for justice and fueled chaotic protests in Ferguson Monday night. As announced, Officer Darren Wilson will not be charged for killing Michael Brown.
The grand jury's decision resounded an illusion for justice as the United States failed to address the rising crisis on racism. The shooting incident of Michael Brown, whose funeral was held last August, was just a reminder of society's mounting concerns over racial discriminations.
After the Michael Brown funeral in August, Ferguson has been struggling to return to its normal state. But after the grand jury's announcement, chaos once again broke out in the city. According to KTLA5 News, over 15 gunshots were heard as business establishments throughout the city were looted or set on fire.
After months of deliberation, the grand jury composed of nine whites and three blacks decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for shooting unarmed teenager, Michael Brown to death in August. Following the shocking announcement, The New York Post reported the crowd exploded in rage and the riotous protests started.
Meanwhile, Michael Brown's family was also devastated that Wilson will not face charges for shooting their son whose funeral was attended by many Ferguson residents. A statement from the father of the victim was released shortly after the announcement of the verdict.
"We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions," the statement said. "While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen."
"We respectfully ask that you please keep your protests peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction," the family added. "Let's not just make noise, let's make a difference."
Because of the mayhem that transpired over the jury's decision, US President Barack Obama urged the nation to stay calm on a late-Monday night address.
"We need to accept that this decision was the grand jury's to make," Obama said. "There are Americans who agree with it, and there are Americans who are deeply disappointed, even angry. It's an understandable reaction."
Following the Michael Brown funeral is the verdict which mirrored that racism was and will always be a growing concern in a world where the white race was deemed supreme. As said by Hatem Bazian of Al Jazeera, the not guilty verdict is a relentless display of sub-humanness which several races are suffering.
Racism has been established and commoditized in every part of the society. It has been an open subject to the world. And the death of Michael Brown is the latest addition to the disturbing increase of racial discrimination issues.
While protests voiced out Ferguson's sentiments, the scars and the real bullets from the shooting incident were left behind. And the verdict after Michael Brown's funeral simply echoed that the rising racism concerns should be addressed more seriously.
