Two police officers shot in Ferguson

Two police officers were shot during a protest outside Ferguson, Missouri police headquarters early on Thursday, police said, just hours after the city's police chief quit following a damning U.S. Justice Department report into his force.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar told reporters a 41-year-old officer from his department was struck in the shoulder and a 32-year-old officer from the nearby Webster Groves Police Department was hit in the face around midnight as the crowd was starting to break up.

He said he did not know the conditions of the officers, whom he did not identify, but said they were both conscious and being treated at a local hospital.

Read more: Two officers shot outside Ferguson police headquarters after chief quits

Ferguson city manager resigns after critical DOJ report

Ferguson City Manager John Shaw resigned Tuesday in the wake of a scathing Justice Department report. Shaw's resignation was announced the same day the City Council voted 7-0 on a mutual separation agreement with Shaw.

Ferguson judge named in DOJ report resigns

A Ferguson municipal court judge, Judge Ronald Brockmeyer who was named in a scathing Department of Justice report is resigning.

Congressional Black Caucus Not Surprised by Ferguson Report

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said they are not surprised by the findings in the report released Wednesday by the Justice Department, faulting the city of Ferguson law enforcement for racial bias and unconstitutional practices.

Michael Brown's parents announce civil lawsuit in death

Lawyers for the parents of an unarmed, black 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a white police officer in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson said Thursday that they would file a civil lawsuit in Michael Brown's death.

Few Black Candidates Enter St. Louis Elections: Have Ferguson's Lessons Gone Unnoticed?

“If Ferguson taught us anything, it is the importance of having representative government. Accountability and fairness come from that,” tweeted St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, who is black and gained a national profile by participating in protests and documenting scenes on the ground in Ferguson since the Aug. 9 shooting of Mike Brown by Police Officer Darren Wilson. "Don't feel like you're being represented? Step up. Run for office."

French could not be reached by IBTimes for further comment, but he tweeted Monday that two districts -- Ward 20 and Ward 6 -- have black majorities but no black candidates. Records from the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners from Tuesday morning showed no African-Americans had filed to run since French’s tweets.

Irl Scissors, a lobbyist and former Democratic political consultant based in St. Louis, said ineffective get-out-the-vote efforts and low black-voter registration are some of the barriers black candidates face. In Ferguson, which is 67 percent black, there is only one black city councilman. There are 17 black state legislators in Missouri out of 199 seats, or about 9 percent -- fewer than the state black population of around 12 percent.

“There are cases where predominantly African-American districts are represented by white elected officials and Ferguson is no exception,” Scissors said. “I really think it has to do with voter registration, it has to do with actual voter turnout and it has to do with real grass-roots mobilizing of the African-American community.”

Read more: Few Black Candidates Enter St. Louis Elections: Have Ferguson's Lessons Gone Unnoticed?

Kenny Smith's open letter to Charles Barkley about Barkley's comments on Ferguson

During an interview on a radio basketball analyst Charles Barkley caused quite a stir when he referred to the rioters in Ferguson as scumbags, and also seemed to be siding with the police version of events in Michael Brown's death. Now Charles has the right to his opinion (and I have the right to believe he's a jackass) and so does his friend and co-worker on TNT, Kenny Smith. Kenny Smith wrote his friend an open letter about his comments on Ferguson. Read that letter below:

Dear Chuck,

I hope this finds you in the way I always see you, in great spirits, with great joy and full of life. There are some things I want to openly say to you that sometimes in conversation get lost.

Firstly I lied! You ARE the greatest Power Forward of all time. It’s not (Tim) Duncan or (Karl) Malone, they had size and height that you weren’t blessed with and you never had near the talent around you that they were blessed to have. Contrarily you took your teams to similar heights. Secondly, you are a champion in my book. Effort and determination is what makes a champion, not a ring.

Lastly, you are the most entertaining person in sports television (partly because I throw you so many assists lol).

However, what I consistently find interesting is how writers and media members view your insights in politics, and now race relations, with the same reverence as your insights in sports.

They did it in the Trayvon Martin trial and now with Mike Brown and the decision in Ferguson. It’s not that you shouldn’t ever have an opinion, but you are often quoted alongside the likes of Al Sharpton and even President Obama. I would hope that Sharpton or President Obama would never be referenced with you when picking the next NBA Champs!

The body of work that our Black Civil Rights leaders put in by planning, executing and activating does not justify you being in the conversation. While your body of work on the court very few compare to nor should be mentioned when you are giving your expert analysis. Again, I respect that you have an opinion on Ferguson. And here’s mine.

The question must be asked: Why is there so much distrust in the police and the legal system from the African American community? Without manifesting what the effects of slavery still have today, Dec 1st still marks only 59 years since Rosa Parks sat on that memorable bus. Many of our parents and grandparents have lived through those times and have passed those stories on to all of us. Those civil rights changes were at one time the law! They were not illegal.

So did the protection of the law by the courts and police make it right? Obviously not, so as African Americans we still know and feel that there are laws and jurisdictions that severely penalize the poor and, most importantly, African Americans greater than any other group. Some laws were initially made without us as equals in mind; that’s just the facts. So the thought process that it’s not for us or by us will unfortunately lead to distrust.

When someone is in “the struggle”, which many of our black communities are in, they are living with a lack of educational facilities, high unemployment and poor recreational facilities. The masses involved in “the struggle” will react in several ways. They can overcome it, challenge it, live in it, or fall victim to it … For those of us who are decades removed from “the struggle” because of our life through sports or business, we now have to acknowledge that every option listed exists. If not, then we are the ignorant ones.

That leads me to the looters and civilians burning buildings which you referred to as “scumbags”. Here’s an analogy: If you put 100 people on an island with no food, no water, no hope of a ship coming, then some will overcome it and be resourceful, some will live in it, others will panic and others will show horrific character, which is wrong. But not to understand that all alternatives are possible is wrong as well.

I was also disheartened to see the reaction of burning buildings and looters by some. However, when you are in “The Struggle” to not expect that that potential reaction is foolish on our part.

The real issue is learning to positively manage your anger so you can be heard. It’s not that they are “scumbags”, their emotions won’t allow them to rationally think through their anger. I applaud that you have done a great job in your anger management in recent times … but not always.

Mike Brown wasn’t about race relations, nor Trayvon Martin or even Hurricane Katrina for that matter. It’s about trust. Do I trust you to help me off the island? If so, do you have my best interests at heart? Do I trust that you will you send a ship or allow me access to build my own ship?

And you were right Chuck, let’s not discredit that there are great police officers in all neighborhoods, but let’s not credit that we shouldn’t have doubt.

See you Thursday night!

Kenny Smith

What's being done to stop the "white on white" crime (murder) epidemic?

In light of events in Ferguson many conservatives/republicans suddenly care about black on black crime. In order to divert attention away from the real issue, we are now constantly being told how many blacks kill blacks. Now, of course, if they really cared they would help do something about gun control, especially when it comes to straw buyers and how many guns one person can buy a month. But I digress.

I find it hypocritical that many on the right are critical of black on black crime when they have ignored the scourge of "white on white" crime. Just today with almost no effort I found the following recent cases of white people murdering other white people.

Jamestown Woman Arrested, Charged With Killing Boyfriend's Father

How a son plotted the murder of his millionaire father

http://www.ifiberone.com/news/bennett-pleads-not-guilty-to-the-murder-of-ephrata-s/article_01591b3e-7a6e-11e4-8355-47b09cc45aee.html

In addition to those cases in cases in which there was a single victim and a single offender 2,509 out 3,005 of whites murdered were murdered by other whites in 2013 (SOURCE: FBI)

At this rate immigration won't be the reason whites become a minority by 2043, it will because of "white on white crime. The question I have is where is the outrage? Why are the good white people not doing anything to demand that this "white on white crime" be stopped. Where are the white fathers and why aren't they putting a stop to this crime epidemic affecting the white community? Where are white leaders and why aren't they speaking out and leading protest marches to let the world know of the tragedy that is "white on white crime"?

What has led to a decline in white culture to get us to this point? Is it the decline of the white family, the decline in church-going, the disgusting, filthy music put out by Meghan Trainor, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande? Is it video games such as Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty?Is it the prevalence of wannabe gangsta culture?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH WHITE AMERICA!

Now of course most of what you just read is just ridiculous bullsh*t but think about it, it is still bush*t when you take out "white on white" and replace it with "black on black". Now let's get a grip people and stay focused on the real issue, and that's the type of policing practiced in minority areas.

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports georgelcookiii@gmail.com

St. Louis Rams show support for Ferguson Protesters

Five Rams players used the team's pregame introductions to offer a show of support for nearby Ferguson before Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

As the offense was introduced, Rams tight end Jared Cook and receivers Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin stopped near the tunnel and raised their hands in a nod to the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9.This of course angered police across the nation and conservative pundits who want the players punished. It's amazing that those who claim that we all have the same rights and are equal under the law want someone punished for PEACEFULLY exercising their rights. Watch the players protest below:

Obama to Peaceful Ferguson Protesters: ‘Your President Will Work With You’

While making a speech in Chicago on immigration President Barack Obama took a few minutes to speak on the protest in Ferguson. Following up on his comments from the night before, the president urged any protests to be peaceful and said there is “no excuse” for the destructive violence seen last night. He also offered to work with peaceful protesters. Watch his statements below:

VIDEO: President Obama statement on Ferguson grand jury decision

President Obama makes statement on 11/24/2014 decision by grand jury in Michael Brown case. Watch video of that speech below:

Michael Brown family statement on Ferguson grand jury decision

"We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions.

While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.

Join with us in our campaign to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera.

We respectfully ask that you please keep your protests peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction.

Let's not just make noise, let's make a difference."

Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown, Sr.

Parents of Michael Brown, Jr.

Video: Obama, Don’t Use (Ferguson) Verdict as ‘Excuse for Violence’

As a grand jury debates whether or not to indict Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, President Barack Obama today — in an exclusive interview with ABC News — urged the residents of the city and all others to “keep protests peaceful.” Watch that excerpt below:

FBI Warns Ferguson Decision 'Will Likely' Lead to Violence By Extremists Protesters

As the nation waits to hear whether a Missouri police officer will face charges for killing unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., the FBI is warning law enforcement agencies across the country that the decision “will likely” lead some extremist protesters to threaten and even attack police officers or federal agents.

Can Ferguson's black leaders gain power next April?

In April, three of Ferguson’s six city council seats are up for grabs and African-Americans have a chance to end decades of white domination. Two-thirds of the town’s 21,000 population is black. But the mayor, more than 90 percent of the police, and all but one of the council members are white -- an imbalance that has stoked racial tensions in Ferguson long before Brown’s shooting in August.

Based on last Tuesday's turnout, winning council seats might difficult: there was little sign of an uptick in interest in local politics. Forty-two percent of registered voters in Ferguson took part in the highest profile race -- the election for St Louis County executive, which was a drop of 10 percentage points from the last such vote in 2010.

That frustrates Patricia Bynes, a local African-American official in the Democratic Party.

"Every time there’s an election we have to show up. I don’t care if we are voting what color the trash cans are, we need to show up," she said.

Putting up good candidates of its own will be crucial for the African-American community, added David Kimball, a political scientist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Read more: Can Ferguson's black leaders gain power next April?

Sen. Rand Paul talks to black leaders in Ferguson.

After meeting with NAACP leaders in Ferguson, Missouri, Sen. Rand Paul told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the Republicans Party's biggest mistake in recent decades has been not reaching out to African-American voters. Watch that segment of the interview below:

3,200 new registered voters in Ferguson!

[SOURCEOne response to Ferguson unrest from area leaders has been telling people to register to vote, and it appears they have listened.

Ferguson has seen thousands register to vote in the weeks since Michael Brown was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

About 3,200 Ferguson residents have registered with the St. Louis County Board of Elections since Aug. 11, out of a population of about 21,000. Board of Elections director Rita Heard Days says that’s unprecedented in a non-presidential election year.

“It’s a huge number,” Heard Days says. “Unfortunately, the record it says that there [were] so many people in the Ferguson area that were not registered, so, I’m happy to see the number’s increased.”

Ferguson Police Chief Apologizes to Brown Family

Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson has issued a video apology to the family of Michael Brown, saying the 18-year-old's body was left in the street for too long last month after he was fatally shot by an officer in the St. Louis suburb. (Sept. 25) Watch his apology below:

How many 'other Fergusons' are there?

What happened in Ferguson could happen elsewhere in America.

That’s the message from experts on race relations and from an analysis of census data about American cities following the protests in the St. Louis suburb that erupted after the shooting death of an unarmed black 18-year-old at the hands of a white police officer.

Ferguson, Mo., may be an extreme example, but it’s part of a larger pattern in which many US communities have police forces that don’t come close to mirroring the racial composition of the populations they serve. Even where Ferguson-style gaps between the police and wider community don’t exist, it’s common across the United States for blacks to feel that the criminal-justice system is stacked against them and that political power eludes them.

What that means is that, despite the real progress the nation has made on race relations, another tragic occurrence similar to the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson could spark street protests in other US cities.

Read more: How many 'other Fergusons' are there?

New witnesses say Michael Brown's hands were up.

CNN's Randi Kaye has fresh details from two construction workers in Ferguson who witnessed Michael Brown's shooting. Their version of the shooting matches those who say Michael Brown's hands were up.