Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
That’s the position of America’s hard line leftists. For far too many people, the only relevant facts of the Michael Brown/Ferguson case, and the only facts on which widespread agreement exists, are (a) Michael Brown, a black man, is dead, and (b) Darren Wilson, the white policeman who killed him, is alive. From there the understanding of the case diverges, and diverges rapidly.
The Ferguson grand jury was impaneled to determine whether Wilson should be indicted for unlawfully killing Brown. After hearing dozens of witnesses and examining dozens of exhibits, the grand jury voted not to indict (federal investigations continue, but reports suggest federal charges may not be filed).
Again, for many, that seems not only unfair, but wrong. Brown is black and dead, while Wilson is white and alive. What should have been a momentary encounter between Brown and Wilson, with Brown and his companion complying with Wilson’s request to move to the side of the road, ended in a lethal confrontation between Brown and Wilson that only Wilson survived. The outcome was appalling, but the grand jury concluded there was not sufficient evidence to warrant an indictment for an unjustifiable homicide.
That’s enraged not only Brown’s family, but large numbers of people across the nation, including many leftist commentators who know in their hearts that Wilson could have spared Brown’s life; therefore they know Wilson committed an unjustifiable homicide. From that conviction, it follows that Wilson should be put on trial for murder, with racial animus as an aggravating factor. They simply cannot, will not, believe Wilson’ account. Wilson’s alive, but Brown is dead: therefore the the grand jury must have been duped.
As I noted earlier today, in a post that’s been well read if not always well received, Wilson’s critics wanted Wilson to be forced to defend himself in a public, very public, trial — a show trial — even if the prosecution knew the evidence couldn’t support a conviction. That would be prosecutorial misconduct. They want a trial so that stupid and unfair police procedures can be exposed. And they want the stress and expense of a trial to serve as Wilson’s punishment, a misuse of the justice system if ever there was one. And they want to do these unjust things in the name of justice because they’re enraged that Michael Brown is dead and Darren Wilson is alive.
Nothing short of Wilson’s being convicted of and incarcerated for a crime will satisfy the grand jury’s critics. Because Brown is dead, Wilson must be destroyed — and because Wilson must be destroyed, so too must those who disagree. Stalin would recognize the tactics.