Shooting of Michael Brown

Michael Brown was a black teenager from Ferguson, Missouri, who was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014. According to police testimony, Brown had assaulted Wilson and attempted to draw the officer’s weapon. However, according to witness testimony, Brown was peacefully surrendering when he was shot. Police alleged that Brown had been involved in a violent robbery prior to his altercation with Wilson. However, at the time of his death, Brown had no criminal record.

Following the shooting, widespread protests and riots broke out across Ferguson. The National Guard was called upon to restore order to the city. When a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, rioting once again occurred. In the following two years, multiple changes were made in Ferguson. These included the election of numerous black local politicians to posts within the city’s government, as well as sweeping reforms to the city’s police force and court system.

Background

Michael Brown was born on May 20, 1996. He grew up in Ferguson, Missouri, and attended Normandy High School. According to the accounts of fellow students, Brown was charismatic and well-liked by his peers. Though he often appeared intimidating—standing at six-foot four-inches tall and weighing more than two-hundred and ninety pounds—Brown did his best to avoid fights.

When he started high school, Brown struggled academically. However, he worked to recover his academic standing and by his senior year in 2014 was expected to graduate on time.

Brown had also acted out in high school. He was known to have abused alcohol and marijuana. Additionally, local police alleged that Brown had been engaged in a robbery. They stated that he was seen on a security camera stealing a box of cigars and pushing a store clerk into a display case during the robbery.

In the months before his death, Brown had taken up rapping, performing some songs with violent lyrics such as “my favorite part is when the bodies hit the ground.” However, Brown’s friends argue that such lines were never meant to be taken seriously. Instead, they allege that Brown had taken on a fictional persona in his music, trying to make his work more popular with traditional hip hop audiences. After graduating high school, Brown had intended to pursue heating and air-conditioning certifications at a technical college.

Overview

On August 9, 2014, Brown and one of his friends, Dorian Johnson, were walking in the middle of a road. Police officer Darren Wilson received an alert and decided to investigate what appeared to be suspicious activity. Wilson stopped Brown and Johnson and became suspicious that they had conducted a robbery. Some sort of altercation occurred between Brown and Wilson, though police reports differ from witness testimony.

According to authorities, Brown attacked Wilson in his car, attempting to draw the officer’s weapon. In response, Wilson fired his gun at the teenager, striking him multiple times and killing him. However, according to witnesses, Brown was surrendering with his hands in the air when the officer opened fire. Brown was struck by at least six bullets, two of which hit him in the head.

Brown’s body was left in the street for hours after the shooting. Some citizens alleged that the police mistreated the body during this time. On the following day, a candlelight vigil was held for Brown. Afterwards, protestors became violent, breaking into local stores and businesses. They smashed car windows and stood on police cars. Many of the protestors, some of whom were part of the newly emerging Black Lives Matter movement, began to link Brown’s death to the murder of black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012. Brown's death also triggered national discussions about racial profiling and the deaths of African-American men at the hands of police.

Protests and riots continued for several days after the shooting. Some were forcibly dispersed by police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets. Such actions were criticized by the public as police brutality but embraced by local police, who continued to use such tactics to suppress crowds in Ferguson. On August 14, 2014, the FBI opened an investigation into Brown’s death.

On August 16, Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency in Ferguson, establishing a curfew within the city. However, as widespread protests continued, he opted to lift the curfew and call upon the National Guard to restore order. The National Guard remained in Ferguson through August 21.

In November, it was announced that a grand jury would soon release a decision regarding the shooting. Nixon once again called for the National Guard to be stationed in Ferguson in anticipation of the decision. Peaceful protests began to take place throughout the city. However, when the grand jury announced that it had decided not to prosecute Wilson, large riots broke out throughout the city. Protestors assaulted police officers, destroyed police cars, and burned down buildings. At the end of November, Wilson announced that he was resigning from the Ferguson Police Department.

Political unrest continued throughout Ferguson during 2015. A federal investigation into the shooting also did not result in charges against Wilson. One violent protestor shot two police officers in front of the Ferguson Police Department but was quickly apprehended. In the ensuing elections, multiple Black people were elected to local government posts that had previously been held by white politicians. In July 2015, the Ferguson Police Department’s white police chief was replaced by Andre Anderson, a Black man. In 2016, the city of Ferguson reached an agreement with the federal government, agreeing to carry out sweeping reforms of its police departments and courts.

Bibliography

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Gowen, Annie. “’Nothing Has Changed': Ferguson Grapples With Legacy in Wake of Floyd Protests.” The Washington Post, 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30207808. Accessed 18 Aug. 2020.

Gray, Bryce and Rice, Rachel. “Memorials, Protests in Ferguson on the Sixth Anniversary of Michael Brown’s Death.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30207808. Accessed 18 Aug. 2020.

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