Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the shooting death of Michael Brown by Officer Darin Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. Weeks of violence and looting followed, resulting in the destruction of local businesses and massive loss of property...and income...to the private owners, who had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting.
Their businesses were located in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time.
According to the Associated Press, a woman driving on West Flourissant Avenue didn't stop for a group of 'peaceful' protesters who were blocking the darkened street and struck one of them, knocking him out of his shoes.
The driver, obviously fearing for her safety as some of the group started pounding on the car, drove away, at which time several shot were fired. Police investigating the incident stated that the car was 'peppered' with bullet holes. The driver, however, was uninjured. Video was obtained by law enforcement and, after interviewing several witnesses and the driver, concluded that the accident was unintentional. She simply didn't see the man standing in the roadway at night.
Maybe the driver should have stopped, gotten out of her car, raised her arms and shouted "hands up, don't shoot!"
The question I have is, how 'peaceful' of a demonstration are you going to have when A) you demonstrate at night, and B) demonstrators bring firearms with them?
Note that Officer Wilson was cleared by a state grand jury investigating the incident two years ago and also a United States Justice Department review. Both concluded Darin Wilson killed Michael Brown in self-defense.
Brown's father, also named Michael Brown, commented during an earlier memorial service that his son "...built families up...".
Never mind that, on the day he was shot and killed, Brown had committed a strong-arm robbery and then fought with a police officer who tried to talk to him, attempting to take the officer's sidearm.
Protesters hiding behind a vehicle after shots were fired
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