Al Sharpton Chimes In On Ferguson Verdict, To Meet With Michael Brown’s Parents
Al Sharpton, civil rights pundit and MSNBC host, reacted last night to the announcement of the results of the Ferguson grand jury, calling it “an absolute blow” and miscarriage of justice. Sharpton said that while the verdict of “not guilty” regarding charges against Officer Darren Wilson was not unexpected, it “still hurts, nonetheless.”
Video from Al Sharpton’s press conference on Monday evening was aired on several networks as well as online. The New York Fox News affiliate, Fox2Now, played it live as Al spoke before his National Action Network in NYC. That video, along with commentary from Mediaite, shows Al Sharpton taking issue with some of the announcements of the St. Louis prosecutor who announced the verdict in Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson. Sharpton cited differences in standards between the state and federal level and especially in matters of civil rights violations, which are being investigated by federal attorneys, Al says. Sharpton made his statements as the parents of chokehold victim Eric Garner stood in watch.
Sharpton has announced that he will be in Ferguson this morning to speak with Michael Brown’s parents and will call for rallies around the country from the National Action Network.
The parents of Michael Brown, Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr., gave their own statements regarding disappointment with the verdict and acknowledged that they will meet with Al Sharpton regarding them. The New York Daily News reports that the parents of Michael Brown and Rev. Sharpton will hold a joint press conference today (Tuesday, November 25).
“We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions,” Brown’s parents said in a statement released by attorney Benjamin Crump, Esq. “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.”
Brown’s parents also called for officers to wear mandatory body cameras and plan to launch a campaign to push that as mandatory policy in the St. Louis police department. Much of the controversy in Michael Brown’s death centers on conflicting evidence and story lines given by witnesses and the officer involved, say the parents.
On his own behalf, Officer Darren Wilson issued a short statement acknowledging the verdict and asking those who second-guess the decision to do so with opinion expressed in a “respectful and peaceful manner.”
Darren Wilson's statement regarding grand jury decision #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/zAsOPMZSTm
— Christine Byers (@ChristineDByers) November 25, 2014
Al Sharpton has declared that the fight is not over and we can expect more statements from him today during the joint press conference that has been planned.
