2014 Ferguson unrest
The 2014 Ferguson unrest refers to a series of protests and riots that erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed eighteen-year-old African American male, by white police officer Darren Wilson in August of that year. The initial shooting sparked outrage and a wave of demonstrations, which escalated into violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. Tensions intensified after a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson in November 2014, leading to further unrest, including looting and property damage.
The protests in Ferguson drew national attention, highlighting systemic issues such as racial discrimination, police brutality, and the militarization of law enforcement. Many participants rallied around the slogan "Hands up, don't shoot," asserting that Brown had attempted to surrender before being shot. The unrest served as a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement and inspired similar protests across the United States, raising awareness about civil rights abuses and fostering a growing distrust of police. Investigations by federal authorities revealed deep-seated issues within Ferguson's criminal justice system, prompting calls for comprehensive reform and leading to the resignation of key officials within the local police department. The events in Ferguson have continued to resonate, contributing to ongoing discussions about race relations and policing in America.
2014 Ferguson unrest
The 2014 Ferguson unrest refers to riots and protests held in Ferguson, Missouri, in response to the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an eighteen-year-old, unarmed African American male, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in August 2014. Unrest continued in Ferguson for several weeks after Brown's death. The decision by a grand jury to not indict Wilson in November 2014 prompted another wave of violent riots and protests involving altercations between police and civilians as well as looting and vandalism. The unrest in Ferguson highlighted racial tensions within the city and led to protests in other cities throughout the United States.
Fatal Shooting of Michael Brown
On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, stopped at Ferguson Market and Liquor in Ferguson, Missouri. Surveillance footage from the store's security system shows Brown stealing cigars and intimidating the store clerk. At 11:54 a.m., Brown and Johnson left the store, and police were notified of the robbery and given a description of the suspect. At 12:01 p.m., police officer Darren Wilson encountered Brown and Johnson walking down the middle of Canfield Drive. Wilson ordered the pair to move onto the sidewalk. Brown and Johnson ignored Wilson's order and continued walking down the middle of the street.
At that point, Wilson realized that Brown matched the description of the suspect in the robbery, and he stopped his vehicle near Brown and Johnson. Reports about the events that followed vary. Brown allegedly reached into Wilson's vehicle and hit Wilson in the face, and the two struggled over Wilson's firearm. During the struggle, Wilson fired two shots, one of which hit Brown. Brown then ran, and Wilson reportedly called for backup and pursued Brown on foot. Wilson and some witnesses stated that Brown then turned and charged at him; other eyewitness testimony stated that Brown turned toward Wilson and put his hands up in the air. Either way, Wilson fired at Brown several more times, and Brown died at the scene. Multiple autopsies of Brown's body indicated that he had at least six bullet wounds.
Aftermath of the Shooting
A wave of riots, protests, and demonstrations erupted in Ferguson after the shooting. Some groups rallied around Brown and his family, arguing that Brown had tried to surrender and that Wilson had used excessive force against him. Others threw their support behind Wilson, arguing that Brown had assaulted the officer and that Wilson had acted in self-defense.
On August 10, a candlelight vigil to mourn Brown turned violent. Some members of the crowd became rowdy and confronted police. Others began looting businesses and vandalizing vehicles. A convenience store was lit on fire. Police officers in riot gear responded to the chaos, which continued into the early morning hours of August 11.
Rioting and protests continued in the following days, and police began to use more forceful methods to disperse crowds, including firing bean bags and rubber bullets at protesters and setting off tear gas. The rallying cry often heard during the protests was "Hands up, don't shoot," the implication being that Brown had been trying to surrender when he was shot.
A week after the shooting, the riots and demonstrations, which seemed to grow worse overnight, prompted Missouri governor Jay Nixon to declare a state of emergency in Ferguson and impose a curfew between midnight and 5 a.m. When violent clashes between police and protesters continued, Nixon called in the National Guard to help control the situation. Demonstrations and rallies, some violent and some peaceful, continued through September, October, and November.
Grand Jury Decision
Following the shooting, a grand jury was selected to determine whether enough evidence existed for an indictment against Wilson, or to charge him with a crime in connection with the shooting. Over a period of three months, the grand jury listened to testimony from medical examiners, police officers (including Wilson), and eyewitnesses. On November 24, the grand jury decided not to indict Wilson. Based on the evidence presented, the jury members believed that Wilson had acted in self-defense when he fired at Brown.
The grand jury's decision sparked another wave of protests in Ferguson and increased the momentum of activists such as those in the Black Lives Matter movement. Rioters set fire to at least twelve buildings and one vehicle. Angry protesters hurled objects at police and members of the National Guard, who tried to use tear gas and smoke to disperse unruly crowds.
Nationwide Unrest
Protests and demonstrations were not confined to Ferguson, however. In cities across the United States, from Los Angeles to New York, people protested the grand jury's decision in the streets. Many have suggested that the problems in Ferguson are indicative of much larger issues, including racial and ethnic discrimination, civil rights abuses, and militarization of police forces. Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department launched investigations to determine whether discrimination, misuse of force, or civil rights abuses occurred in Ferguson.
The unrest in Ferguson also contributed to a growing distrust of police. In Brooklyn, New York, a gunman referenced Brown's shooting death on social media before exacting "revenge" on law enforcement by shooting two New York City police officers on December 20, 2014. Both officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, died as a result of their injuries.
In March 2015, the Justice Department concluded its investigation, determining that Ferguson's criminal justice system was so fraught with constitutional violations and had such an ingrained culture of racism that it needed to be entirely rethought and reworked. Not long after these findings were publicized, Thomas Jackson, Ferguson's police chief, resigned from his position. On the anniversary of Brown's death in August of that year, several nights of protest occurred once more on the streets of Ferguson, resulting in several arrests. Later that year, the Justice Department released yet another report that criticized the police response to the initial unrest in Ferguson as inadequate and ineffective due to a lack of understanding about community views of law enforcement.
Throughout 2015 and into 2016, the issues of police brutality and racism brought forth by the shooting of Brown continued to remain areas of concern and spark further protest as more shootings of African Americans by white police officers occurred.
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