Montgomery Residents React to Decision in Ferguson
22-hundred National Guard members are monitoring the situation tonight in Ferguson Missouri.         Â
The governor of the state ordered more troops to the area after last night’s protests turned violent.
The rioting started shortly after the announcement that a grand jury would NOT indict officer Darren Wilson.
People around the country are talking about a grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, who shot Mike Brown, an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri. Lecia Brooks with the Southern Poverty Law Center says the decision is disappointing.
“There’s this notion that black men are somehow more dangerous, criminal, have criminal intent and people seem to feel threatened just by their very presence.”
Brooks says because the Ferguson Police Department is not racially diverse, a strain was created with the community.
“It’s a recipe for disaster when people live hyper segregated lives and come in to police people that they know nothing about.”
Some Montgomery residents say the decision not to indict is troubling.
“They definitely do have the right to be upset you know, it’s outrageous,” says Kourtney Berry.
“I think things happen for a reason because the person who did this crime is going to have to live with the result of what they’re done forever,” says Darnell Steele.
Others say the rioting and looting that has happened as a result of the decision, is unnecessary.
“A lot of people don’t know how to channel they’re emotions so it is what it is,” says Terrance Abrams.
But Brooks tells us rioting is nothing new.
“I like to look at it in terms of rebellion,” she says. “People are upset. It’s a civil uprising. People are expressing their hurt and their upset in ways that may look like they work against the very communities that they come from.”
There are many who do agree with the decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, saying there simply wasn’t enough evidence. The conversation continues on social media. We’d love to know what you think. You can post your comments to our Facebook page. Just look for ‘Alabama News Network.’
This Friday, a peaceful protest will be held at the Civil Rights Memorial in downtown, Montgomery from noon to 1.
