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Apology from Ferguson chief brings no forgiveness

By Dr. J.A. Salaam | Last updated: Sep 30, 2014 - 12:11:51 PM

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Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson, left, speaks before protesters in front of the Ferguson Police Department on Sept. 25.

FERGUSON, Mo. (FinalCall.com) - “Too little too late” was the sentiment of protesters after Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson offered an apology to the Brown family and protesters six weeks after the killing of unarmed 18 year old Black teenager Mike Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

Protesters gathered in front of the Ferguson Police Dept. to express their displeasure and non-acceptance of his apology issued by videotape on Sept. 25. The same-day protest carried on throughout the night until around 2 a.m. the next morning.

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In this frame grab provided Sept. 25 by Devin James Group is Ferguson, Mo., Police Chief Tom Jackson during a video apology to the community of Ferguson and the family of Michael Brown. Jackson said Brown’s body remained on the street for too long after he was killed.
Banners made from white sheets sprayed with black paint called for the chief to step down, “Chief Jackass Resign,” and another sign read “Mike Brown Means We Got to Fight Back.” As protesters were chanting in front of the entrance to the police station parking lot, an officer pulled up with no name tag on his Ferguson Police Dept. uniform and a couple other officers snatched down the banner calling for the resignation of his boss, which was draped over a sign. Disturbed and determined protesters rushed to take the banners from police in a type of tug-of-war, with demonstrators coming out victorious. More officers arrived on the scene as tensions began to rise.

“We got to fight back! We got to fight back! Fight back! Fight back! Fight back!” chanted the crowd.

Most of the demonstrators were young people who stood in unity with older adults, like activist Zaki Baruti of the Universal African Peoples Organization and a member of the Justice For Michael Brown Leadership Coalition, who joined the youth. Some sat in the middle of the street in front of the police station, delaying and halting traffic. “Who’s street? Our street! Who’s street? Our street!” they shouted.

Around 10 p.m. Chief Jackson came out to speak with protesters, he was swarmed and immediately confronted. As he attempted several times to speak, the crowd shouted question after question. When the group allowed him to speak, he spoke of remorse and maintained his videotaped apology was sincere. “You don’t have to accept that but I had to get that off my chest, it’s been sitting there for two months,” he said. “Why, why two months?” shouted an onlooker. “Arrest Darren Wilson! Arrest Darren Wilson!” the crowd chanted. The chief responded that he doesn’t have the authority to fire officer Wilson. “We have the Justice Department here. They are making changes and they met with me today and said you need to do this, this, this and this,” said Chief Jackson.

“They told us that our court system needs to be resolved. Ticketing system needs to be resolved, our traffic violation system needs to be resolved, our equipment system needs to be resolved and several other items I have them written down,” Chief Jackson added.

“So what can you do about the situation right now when you see it’s going to f---g hell?” asked a protester. “What can you do for us that we going to get justice?” “Nothing. He can’t do nothing, then he’s fired,” shouted another person in the crowd. “Na, na, na, na. Na, na, na, na. Hey, hey, hey! Good-bye!” protestors started chanting as the chief tried to speak. “The whole system is going up in smoke,” said an angry young man.

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Protesters, including Tef Poe (with hat) yell at Ferguson police officers as they remove a sign that they nailed to a construction barrier in front of the Ferguson Police Department on Sept. 25. Photo: AP/Wide World photos
Chief Jackson continued, “The Justice Department is putting together a national standard for when police officers are involved in a fatal shooting and everything is done in exactly the same way.”

“The officer in South Carolina shot a man and he is already charged, why is it that Darren Wilson killed a man and is just chillin’?” asked a young woman. “We have to change our training and awareness in the community. This is something we can do to improve and change. This is where the mistrust is coming from right?” Chief Jackson said. “It’s been six weeks and you have not come out here with us. Six weeks we’ve asked you to come out here and you didn’t. What are you going to do to help us? We the ones suffering, the Blacks in the community are suffering. What are you going to do about it?” another person yelled.

Chief Jackson asked, “So what do you want me to do?”

“Come take a step in our shoes, see what it feels like,” the person responded.

“Come march, come march, come march,” said the crowd.

Suddenly Chief Jackson stepped forward into the crowd and start walking with protestors behind a 12 by 4 foot banner that read, “RACISM LIVES HERE.” No officers were around to protect him and he walked about 15 feet with the crowd.

Suddenly a Black police officer pushed his way through the crowd, shoving people as he attempted to get closer to the chief. A chain reaction started with other officers following his lead. The Black officer is the only Black male in the Ferguson Police Dept., one of three Blacks among 53 Ferguson police officers. He elbowed a young man and forced him to the ground. The atmosphere grew tense as people shouted and screamed. Other officers began to rough people up, hitting demonstrators and slamming them to the ground. A Black woman lay face down, hands tied behind her back like an animal. Three officers picked her up by her shoulders and ankles and carried her away. “Why are you doing this to me? I didn’t do anything. I was walking next to the chief and you are hurting me; why are you bending my thumb back why?” cried out another woman who was seated on a curb. 

Within ten minutes the entire street was filled with police squad cars and SUV’s as helicopters overhead shined lights on the heated and very upset crowd,  a crowd that came to seek justice. Officers lined up in front of the police station and ordered protesters to get out of the street or be arrested. Demonstrators were told if they retreated, those who had been arrested would be let go. Demonstrators moved across the street from the police station to a place where protesters have gathered day and night since the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown. About 1:30 a.m. the crowd began to thin. Many waited for some of those arrested to be released. However, as of that time, no one had been let go.