West Tennesseans react to decision to not indict Ferguson policeman
JACKSON, Tenn. — West Tennesseans weigh in on the grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo., officer Darren Wilson. Wilson, according to investigators, shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, in August. After dozens of protests and 25 days of deliberation spread over weeks, a grand jury chose not to indict Wilson. Some Jackson residents said they do not see justice for Michael Brown. “You don’t shoot nobody five times. That’s overkill. That’s overkill,” Marcellous Bond said. “You don’t shoot a young man like that five times.” Others said they trust the grand jury’s decision. “The courts did the best with the evidence they had, and they made the right decision according to the evidence at hand,” Stephanie White said. Sean Evans, associate professor of political science at Union University, said this case is one that has captivated the nation. “I think it’s a combination of race and politics,” Evans said. “There is a perception in the African American community that the police is antagonistic of them.” He said this case will be known for the power of the media in shaping people’s minds before the full story of what happened comes out. “It means that we’re not waiting over time to get information, which means we get a lot of incomplete information at first that tends to stay in our minds,” he said. Evans said it may not be over for Officer Wilson. “Will the federal government then launch a grand jury investigation of Officer Wilson to see if he violated the civil rights of Michael Brown?” Evans said. Evans said if more evidence comes up in the future, a grand jury also could indict him in Missouri.
