As I read the Department of Justice’s reports on the Ferguson Police Department and Darren Wilson, I asked myself over and over again, how I could not have known about these blatant injustices against African Americans when I have lived in Ferguson for close to 10 years? I realize there are probably others who also did not know the depth of what the Ferguson police were doing to African Americans.
I understand the Department of Justice (DOJ) could not legally determine Darren Wilson guilty of violating Michael Brown Jr.’s constitutional rights, nor could they refute that he believed Brown posed a threat to his life. However, one thing that is very clear is that Brown had reason to fear for his life when he was confronted by Wilson.
After all, Wilson had come to Ferguson from the Jennings Police Department, which had been disbanded due to resident complaints of police abuse, violation of their rights, and officers doing everything but protecting and serving. The DOJ report cited many instances where African Americans had reason to fear the Ferguson police, in terms of rights being violated or even their very lives being threatened.
As an African American who grew up in the civil rights era, has worked close to 30 years for the St. Louis Desegregation Program, and has always been involved in my community and with issues of justice and injustice in our society, I will continue to work for justice for all people, because I truly believe the quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.”
Across the nation, the constitutional rights of African-American people, particularly African-American males, are being violated, and in many instances their very lives are taken. President Obama, always concerned and wanting to make this country better, has initiated action to promote better police and community relations.
As Americans we each need to take a long, hard look at our individual hearts. Racism, oppression and violation of others’ human and civil rights will only continue to make this country a chaotic, hypocritical nation. How can the United States of America continue to preach democracy and human rights around the world when the human and civil rights of our own people are being violated here?
This column is reprinted from the April 23, 2015 edition of The St. Louis American. Laverne Mitchom was appointed to the Ferguson City Council on February 9.
