In a special, live evening edition of "St. Louis on the Air," we discussed the grand jury's decision regarding the August shooting death of Michael Brown by police Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson.
Guests
- William "Bill" Freivogel (@bfreivogel), professor at Southern Illinois University–Carbondale's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. We talked to Freivogel at noon Monday as part of our legal roundtable.
- David Klinger, criminal justice professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a former Los Angeles police officer.
- The Rev. Willis Johnson (@FWillisJohnson), pastor of Wellspring Church in Ferguson.
- Mike Wolff (@MikeWolffSLU), dean of the Saint Louis University law school and a former Missouri Supreme Court judge.
- Larry Fellows III (@geeknstereo), a Ferguson protester.
- St. Louis Public Radio reporters Willis Ryder Arnold (@WillisRArnold) on-the-scene in Ferguson and Emanuele Berry (@Emanuelewithane) in St. Louis' Shaw neighborhood.
A few highlights from Monday night's conversations:
Police car on fire behind that truck. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/hLnx3fsLvN
— Willis Arnold (@WillisRArnold) November 25, 2014
One cop car windows knocked out. Things thrown through El Palenque and Quiznos windows on S Florrissant. #Ferguson
— Willis Arnold (@WillisRArnold) November 25, 2014
At one point, @WillisRArnold says there were a few hundred protesters. Now, only a few dozen near him, he says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"At the moment, this is very tense" in Ferguson @WillisRArnold says. He says police are in full riot gear. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
In some groups, police officers in #Ferguson seem relaxed and are interested in crowd control, @WillisRArnold says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
44 is blocked by protestors pic.twitter.com/ZLSXvwHvtI
— Emanuele Berry (@Emanuelewithane) November 25, 2014
"It's been relatively peaceful" in the Shaw neighborhood, @Emanuelewithane says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
Protesters are sitting on the I-44. "It looks like they're planning on staying for awhile," @Emanuelewithane says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"It's not chaotic. (Protesters) were very purposeful" marching toward I-44, @Emanuelewithane says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"What I'm seeing on TV is different than the protests I saw earlier," @durrieB says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"We're seeing buildings on fire. We're seeing police cars on fire. We're hearing reports of shots fired. This is serious," @durrieB says.
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
.@geeknstereo: "There's a lot of chaos going on. There's a lot of police in riot gear walking up and down the street. A lot of protesters."
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"Honestly, I have no words. I've never dealt with this," @geeknstereo says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"People are definitely upset," @geeknstereo says. "I understand the anger." #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
#Ferguson pic.twitter.com/GeHA6ISJ9z
— give me 6ft❗️ (@GeekNStereo) November 25, 2014
Gas in my eyes... I tear up so my eyes rinse it out. #Ferguson
— give me 6ft❗️ (@GeekNStereo) November 25, 2014
"I don't think anyone expected this to end this way, or to continue this way," @geeknstereo says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
Light being shinned toward protestors on highway. Dozens of Police are lined up in front of it. #Shaw #MichaelBrown pic.twitter.com/i7ZvPmwtoQ
— Emanuele Berry (@Emanuelewithane) November 25, 2014
"It seems to me there was something in the gap of the narrative. But that's second-guessing" the grand jury, @MikeWolffSLU says.
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"I'm very disappointed," @FWillisJohnson says. "I'm looking burned out vehicles. This is very disturbing." #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"It unfortunately is the fulfillment of expectations," @FWillisJohnson says. "I don't believe that is a justification." #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"We are literally, in many respects, having to start over. It makes it hard to explain to your family why this is," @FWillisJohnson says.
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"I'm not foolish and I'm not blind. After awhile you just get tired of being sick and tired," @FWillisJohnson says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
Not discounting work that has been done, @FWillisJohnson says "it takes a lot to trust again." #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"These acts and these situations in this community once again pull back a scab and open a wound," @FWillisJohnson says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
"It's going to take a lot. I haven't lost my hope," @FWillisJohnson says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
The family will likely file a civil lawsuit, @cometguard60 says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
A civil lawsuit of this type typically goes to trial 18 months after filed, @cometguard60 says. #FergusonDecision
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
Police order protestors to disperse in #Shaw
— Emanuele Berry (@Emanuelewithane) November 25, 2014
If you're interested in the #FergusonDecision documents #BobMcCulloch released tonight, we're uploading them here: http://t.co/zl3teBJlSP
— St. Louis on the Air (@STLonAir) November 25, 2014
“St. Louis on the Air” discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and hosted by veteran journalist Don Marsh. Follow us on Twitter: @STLonAir.
Help St. Louis Public Radio report on this story. Become a source in the Public Insight Network and share what you are doing to move on, Beyond Ferguson.
