Late Monday, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch announced that a grand jury had voted it would not indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the August death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. Protests began soon after the announcement in Ferguson and St. Louis, followed by acts of arson and violence.
Tuesday on "St. Louis on the Air," we tried to get a better idea of how the communities are reacting and what is planned.
Guests
- Patricia Bynes (), Democratic committeewoman of Ferguson Township;
- David Klinger, criminal justice professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a former Los Angeles police officer;
- The Rev. F. Willis Johnson (), pastor of Wellspring Church in Ferguson;
- Archbishop Robert Carlson (), archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis;
- Christopher Shearman, president of the South Grand Community Improvement District;
- © 2024 reporters Chris McDaniel () and Nancy Fowler ().
Highlights from Tuesday's conversations:
"This is just absolutely devastating," says. She says police officers didn't act during fires.
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"This certainly isn't justice. I don't think anybody deserved this," says.
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"I don't expect this to be just one night. I think we need to look and see if this happens again. It's unfortunate," says.
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"Please don't just sit back and let the rest of the city burn," says.
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"What I can do is reach out to the community that was devastated by this that was not involved in burning things," says.
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"This is beyond heartbreaking. I almost don't have words for this," says of last night's reaction to .
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"I'm not quite sure what clergy could do," says. The people who burn things aren't going to church Sunday, she says.
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. has been combing through the grand jury evidence. You can too:
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There are more than 5,000 documents and says he's been through about 600 so far.
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Wilson testified that Brown was a threat even when he was running away.
— Chris McDaniel (@csmcdaniel)
Wilson on why he believed he had to take out his gun:
— Chris McDaniel (@csmcdaniel)
The grand jury asks Wilson about his hospital visit:
— Chris McDaniel (@csmcdaniel)
Wilson says the first two times he pulled the trigger, nothing happened.
— Chris McDaniel (@csmcdaniel)
After the struggle in the car, Wilson says Brown runs.
— Chris McDaniel (@csmcdaniel)
As a police officer, David Klinger shot and killed a man who had stabbed his partner.
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It was "the most critical few seconds of my life," David Klinger says.
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"I continue to be not only disappointed, but after walking through the community today ... even more saddened," says.
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"You can't help but just ask why," says.
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"We've been saying don't riot, don't loot. We've been saying we need to be respectful," says.
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"There was clergy present" last night, says. "We were providing resource and respite."
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When he returned to , "I was met by armored vehicles and officers," says, and was unable to get to his home.
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"There's a higher moral road we can take and ground we can achieve," says.
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Judge warned grand jury against doing independent investigation. Told them to ask for info.
— Brent Jones (@brentajones)
described as "superhuman," says.
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Inbox: issues statement, plans use of additional Mo. Nat. Guard resources
— STL Public Radio (@stlpublicradio)
"We were up in Ferguson having a prayer service actually before the announcement," says.
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"In the long-range, you want to encourage people to deal with the issues behind the issue," says of the clergy's role.
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"In the long run, if we're going to deal with systemic racism, we have to listen to each other," says.
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"We have to continue to pray because God can do things we can't," says.
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. will celebrate Mass for Peace & Justice , 5pm. All are welcome. Live stream and info at
— Archdiocese of STL (@archstl)
. was at the news conference held by and ’s family.
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.: "(Grand jury) has broken out hearts but not our back."
— Nancy Fowler (@NancyFowlerSTL)
. has scheduled a civil rights meeting next week in Washington, D.C., says.
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. compares Wilson finding to initial acquittal in Rodney King.
— Nancy Fowler (@NancyFowlerSTL)
.: "This is not our first rodeo, McCulloch" referencing next federal step, Rodney King and others.
— Nancy Fowler (@NancyFowlerSTL)
"You could see just pillars of smoke" in this morning, says.
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Since early this morning, people have been working to clean up after last night's protests and destruction, says.
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. met a family that was cleaning up. The father told her "there's a lot more than glass broken here."
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"We had so many people out last night showing their support for South Grand, for the neighborhood," Christopher Shearman says.
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Regardless of the grand jury decision, protests were planned on South Grand, Christopher Shearman says.
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There was broken glass and vandalism last night on South Grand, Christopher Shearman says.
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More demonstrations are expected tonight on South Grand, Christopher Shearman says. He says people are supporting the neighborhood.
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testified that he did not have a Taser and that he usually didn't carry one because it was too clunky, says.
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Tasers have come under fire from civil liberties groups as a torture device, David Klinger says.
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"Tasers are not 100 percent. Gunfire is not 100 percent," David Klinger says.
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was carrying mace and a baton, says.
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"Most police officers are never confronted with a situation where someone is going to try to kill them," David Klinger says.
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Wilson didn't think he needed to go to the hospital until his assistant chief said he should.
— Chris McDaniel (@csmcdaniel)
“St. Louis on the Air” discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by and and hosted by veteran journalist . Follow us on Twitter: @STLonAir.