Ferguson Grand Jury Decision Could Come at Any Moment
As St. Louis and the rest of the country await a grand jury decision in the Ferguson shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown by area police officer Darren Wilson, rumors are swirling over the timing of the announcement.
For weeks, media have been reporting that the city of Ferguson is extremely uneasy about the grand jury decision and have been beefing up their stockpile of tear gas, handcuffs and the like just in case.
It is widely expected and has been reported by The Associated Press via numerous media outlets that the grand jury will not indict Officer Wilson, who has essentially been in hiding ever since the early August shooting. Wilson is only 28 years old and has a relatively short history with the Ferguson Police Department.
Ahead of the decision, which could come any time between this Monday and early next week, the group AnonOps began disseminating information to the media that there are armored vehicles waiting in St. Louis in preparation for possible rioting after the decision is announced. The group has also said that one area hotel is booked to the brim with FBI and other federal agents throughout next weekend.
Within St. Louis communities, USA Today described a tense situation, in which people are preparing for any possible outcome and reaction. It is widely believed that regardless of whether Wilson is indicted or not, there will be demonstrations or rioting in the streets. Either way, the local Ferguson police force and other security forces are on edge and preparing for the worst.
Local community groups, city officials, police, businesses and protest groups have been meeting and planning on a regular basis for what might lie ahead. Protests in August were prolonged and sometimes violent and saw the police and general public of the area pitted against each other in an ugly display that garnered national attention for weeks.
A report from The New York Times described a situation in which “few are expecting peace” after the grand jury decision is announced. Shopkeepers have started boarding up their windows again in case a verdict comes at 3 p.m. EST, which is one of the rumored times the decision will be announced.
Other leaked information and rumors from anonymous sources have pointed to nothing short of an all-out battle if protesters decide to come out to the streets of Ferguson in any serious numbers after the grand jury decision.
