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Ferguson is now a free speech zone
The Verge ^ | August 14, 2014 | T.C. Sottek and Matt Stroud

Posted on 08/14/2014 9:20:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

The people of Ferguson, Missouri are still out on the streets. They're loud, and they're upset, but tonight they're not being intimidated by warrior cops. They're not being tear gassed. They're not being shot at with rubber bullets. They're simply doing what Americans do in hard times.

The decision today by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to yank St. Louis County Police from security detail appears to be paying off. Since police shot and killed Michael Brown on Saturday, heavily armed officers locked down the neighborhood, intimidating peaceful protestors. Police aggression peaked on Wednesday night as the nation watched, as officers advanced on crowds of residents, asking them to turn off their cameras. Police even tear gassed an Al Jazeera news crew, and arrested two journalists for no reason.

The tone has shifted. Residents we spoke with on the ground today said they're finally able to do what they wanted to do in the first place: mourn the death of Michael Brown and let the country know that his death was senseless and unnecessary. The afternoon, marked by calm solidarity, has transformed into a boisterous parade. People from all over St. Louis — and elsewhere — are driving through this small strip of Ferguson, honking horns liberally, packed so full that passengers are hanging out of the windows.

Whenever hands are raised, just as Brown's were before he was fatally shot, the chant echoes through the street: "Hands up! / Don't shoot!"

We asked several people who've been present for the protests how the tone has changed since St. Louis County Police left Ferguson. In a word, it's peaceful. "They told us to go back to the house," a young man named Sosa told us. "We don't want to be in the house. We want to be on the streets."

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Government; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: blacks; ferguson; michaelbrown; missouri
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To: dragnet2

What about that crazy lady in D.C. that got pumped full of lead for the crime of driving without stopping? Where were the riots and demonstrations and the appeals to the U.N. over that?

It’s a mixed up crazy world.


81 posted on 08/14/2014 11:25:32 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: dragnet2

Well, the point was that if you try to harm a police dog, they will probably shoot you. If you try to shoot them (or they have reason to think you did), they will likely shoot you. If you run after they shoot once, they will likely empty the clip.

The details will make the difference. Did Big Mike try to ‘surrender’ or was he just collapsing as the officer fired multiple rounds ? Unless there is video, no one will know for sure.

When Mike punched the cop, it was assault on a police officer. When the gun fired, in the cop’s mind it was attempted murder of a policeman. That usually provokes a very quick and deadly response.

Eventually the cell phone videos will come out, then we will know.


82 posted on 08/14/2014 11:29:37 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: flaglady47
Why? To shoot the Cop with his own gun.

I actually think that Mike may have tried to take the gun, not intending to use it, but to keep the cop from arresting and/or shooting him. The cop allegedly yelled "I'm gonna kill you". Whether that was just after the door slamming, or after the punch, is not certain.

83 posted on 08/14/2014 11:36:15 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

Try as I might, I just can’t work up any upset over gassing an Al Jazeera crew or arresting the two journalists.


84 posted on 08/15/2014 2:49:59 AM PDT by jospehm20
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To: moehoward

And I heard he tried to take the cop’s gun.


85 posted on 08/15/2014 2:57:39 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: kabar

That is not Michael Brown. That is a punk named Jodah Cain, who killed his grandmother in 2013:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2450654/Boy-17-suspected-killing-71-year-old-great-grandmother-help-cousin.html

You should have the mods pull your post.


86 posted on 08/15/2014 3:55:16 AM PDT by Conscience of a Conservative
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To: Conscience of a Conservative

Thanks for clearing that up.


87 posted on 08/15/2014 4:11:47 AM PDT by Sawdring
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hard times?

What hard times would those be?


88 posted on 08/15/2014 4:20:38 AM PDT by Altura Ct.
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To: UCANSEE2

I think that’s pretty close. And I think the Cop is in trouble too....


89 posted on 08/15/2014 4:31:17 AM PDT by kjam22 (my music video "If My People" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74b20RjILy4)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

If Eric Holder had a son...


90 posted on 08/15/2014 4:55:12 AM PDT by FrdmLvr ("WE ARE ALL OSAMA, 0BAMA!" al-Qaeda terrorists who breached the American compound in Benghazi)
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To: dr_lew

Yes, I recall that lew..

It’s also a world full of people with agendas and bad intent.


91 posted on 08/15/2014 9:53:05 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: UCANSEE2
I actually think that Mike may have tried to take the gun, not intending to use it

Not sure where you're getting that.

If ya try to take a cops weapon, real bad things will follow as the cop will have no idea what your intent is and won't even care at that point.

92 posted on 08/15/2014 9:59:26 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: flaglady47

“whereas I suspect you are one of the Cop haters that infect certain Cop hater threads that are appearing here all too often.”

I used to respect cops... I was a military cop in a past life, but since they started shooting dogs and grandmothers, I’ve wised up.


93 posted on 08/15/2014 4:54:18 PM PDT by babygene ( .)
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