Ferguson, MO: Violence and Destruction Are Not the Answer

Ferguson, MO has erupted into a firestorm of protests, following the announcement that white police officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted for the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown.

News outlets and social media are replete with dramatic coverage of burning buildings and police cars and angry crowds.  Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, rallied crowds outside the courtroom with a hate-filled, expletive-laden speech, as tempers flared and talk erupted of “getting justice” by burning the city down.  (Because of my “no F-word” policy, I will not carry that speech on this blog; if you want to see it for yourself, you can see it here.)

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That’s one way to approach the loss of a son whom you love.  And while I pray for Michael Brown and pray that his mother will find comfort and peace, I know that there’s a better way to honor a loved one, and a better way to resolve disagreements with one’s political leaders.

My prayer today is that the law-breakers who are destroying the homes and businesses of innocent bystanders in Ferguson will reverse their course, listening to the carefully chosen words of St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch, who announced the grand jury decision.  I pray that they will choose the better way and return to their homes, perhaps still feeling the loss of their brother but knowing that here, in America, we are united under the law.

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I invited Rachel Ganim Muha, mother of another young man who died too young.  Her son Brian was murdered by two black men; but there were no protests in the streets.  I’ll let Rachel speak for herself as she tells her story.

A Guest Post

by Rachel Ganim Muha 

My son Brian was murdered by two black men. Not only did my family, who loves Brian very much, not react with hate, rioting, destroying and hurting others; neither did the Franciscan University students who also love Brian; neither did the community where Brian volunteered; neither did Brian’s high school where Brian excelled and had a lot of friends; neither did Brian’s neighbors who watched him grow up – and the list goes on. Does that mean we didn’t care?

No. It means we really care. Really love. We didn’t riot, destroy or hurt. We prayed: publicly and privately, for Brian’s killers. We still do. At times, when it is especially hard to pray we pray anyways. Prayer heals.

And now, we have a lot of people in our “family” who are black. They are young black teens who are taught by others that they are discriminated against, that prejudice is alive and well.

But they get a different message from us. Our message is this: do what is right. Study. Get a good job. Get to know God. He loves you. Go to church. Turn to God many times a day. Stay out of the war zone that is in your neighborhood: the drug houses, the gang houses. Stay away. Do what is right and teach your friends to do what is right. That’s the way to stop the killings.

Point One

If a black man is killed by a black police officer, is there an outcry? No

If white man is killed by a white police officer, is there an outcry? No

If a white man is killed by a black police officer, is there an outcry? No

If a black man is killed by a white police officer, is there an outcry? Yes

If a black person murders a black person, is there an outcry? No

If a black person murders a white person, is there an outcry? No

If a white person murders a white person, is there an outcry? No

If a white person murders a black person, is there an outcry? Often

The “outcries” are when a white person kills a black person. If we are to believe that the outrage is because of the loss of life, be outraged at all loss of life.

Point Two

In the Michael Brown case, Michael Brown had just committed a crime. Then he didn’t do what the police officer told him to do. And he assaulted the police officer. Then again he didn’t do what the police officer told him to do. Then it looked like he was reaching for something in his pants, after being told to keep his hands visible. There were houses and businesses around. The police officer’s duty is to protect the community from a criminal. The officer was protecting the very people who are now rioting.

Point Three

Michael Brown’s mother prayed that justice would be served and when it was, she didn’t recognize it. Justice is not having things go the way you want; justice is giving everyone what is due to them. The grand jury heard the evidence and decided on what was due to the police officer, the person they were investigating.

If people can be investigated and tried after death, what would the grand jury have to decide about Michael Brown? There is video showing him stealing and shoving the store manager just minutes before being stopped by the police.

Point Four

The media.  If only the media would report totally and honestly. The people of Ferguson weren’t “protesting” and there was nothing lawful about their “gatherings.” Please read this definition and tell me if this isn’t what was happening in Ferguson:

unlawful assembly n. although freedom of assembly is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, it is unlawful to assemble for the purpose of starting a riot or breaching the peace, or when such an assembly reasonably could be expected to cause a riot or endanger the public. The right of law enforcement to require disbursement of such an assembly is part of the “police powers” of the state, but the dangers of riot or breach of peace are subjective and decided on the spot by police officers or other public officials. Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.

Stop calling the law-breakers “protestors.”

Point Five

The businesses, cars, homes and human beings who were destroyed or hurt in the riots: what did they do to deserve that? These are the very business owners where the rioters shop. Who do they think they are, destroying so much property, stealing from the cell phone stores, the auto parts shops, the dollar stores…

Point Six

Michael Brown’s father asked for peaceful protests before the grand jury’s decision was made public. No one listened to him. So who can believe that the riots were because people thought justice wasn’t served – or instead by people who were just out to destroy and steal?

Point Seven

Where is the outrage on behalf of the store owners, the car owners, the individuals who were hurt? Where are the news reports about them? These were unlawful, dangerous acts. Refer to point one to get an answer to this.