Iris lilies, how are things in your hood?

[dmc]

OK then.....If anyone is interested, please go to yahoo.com news. There you can find a story to the effect that the police in Missouri are being sued for $40 Million dollars due to treating citizens as if war combatants - I understand there are several folks filing this one lawsuit for $40 Million. Personally, as far as sending a message to the police and punishing via financial loss, I think they are asking for too little. We'll see if this goes to court or if the city's insurance company handles it hush hush out of court with the provision that no one talk about it but I'd like to see a larger settlement to send a message to both the police and to civilians everywhere. Everyday people stand up and effect change via financial loss, and police - get your act together as you are no longer going to enjoy being above the law. So so so long overdue. I'm hoping for many many many more similar lawsuits. Rob

PS Please understand that this lawsuit here stems from police behavior AFTER the shooting and it not directly about the actual shooting or Michael Brown or the officer involved. I'm also looking forward to lawsuits from two journalists who were assaulted at the Ferguson McDonald's and others who were pushed, shoved, teargassed, and threatened. These are educated people who know the dollar value of such behavior by the police - bring the lawsuits on!

yea, that will show the citizens of Ferguson. Bankrupt the town, fire all the police. I'm sure the town will prosper under mob rule.

[gimmethesimplelife]

yea, that will show the citizens of Ferguson. Bankrupt the town, fire all the police. I'm sure the town will prosper under mob rule.

I'm thinking the town will end out bankrupted, yes, and that is sad but inevitable. I blame the police for their heavy handedness and I think it will be interesting to see the end results of this suit and how knows how many more will be coming. You can't do heavy handedness in a racially charged environment anymore, social media has put an end to that and the police need to find a way to accept that bitter pill and swallow it. Also, the police are going to have to understand that the equation has changed - behave as if you are above the law or even be perceived as doing such - and face consequences. Overall, I consider this a potential human rights victory but I do agree it sucks that Ferguson will quite likely be bankrupted. Rob

[bae]

So, bankrupt the town, roll up the sidewalks, dismiss police and firefighters and emergency medical, shut off the water and sewers, turn off the traffic lights, after the taxpayers/residents of the city have paid out every last dime they can to the settlement. That'll sure show the people who live there how to vote next time!

Sounds like a great plan, almost like Detroit! Then once the place is mostly abandoned and the buildings decay, the survivors can build gardens amongst the ruins.



And live happily ever after!

[gimmethesimplelife]

So, bankrupt the town, roll up the sidewalks, dismiss police and firefighters and emergency medical, shut off the water and sewers, turn off the traffic lights, after the taxpayers/residents of the city have paid out every last dime they can to the settlement. That'll sure show the people who live there how to vote next time!

Sounds like a great plan, almost like Detroit! Then once the place is mostly abandoned and the buildings decay, the survivors can build gardens amongst the ruins.



And live happily ever after!

Yes the first pic could very well be the future of Ferguson. Once again, I blame the police - there is no excuse for their behavior after the shooting. None whatsoever. There never was any excuse for police heavy handedness to begin with, but what I find particularly irksome re the Ferguson Police - the marked lack of common sense they showed in their actions in the social media age. It was as if they had no clue that any heavy handedness on their part would go viral in mere minutes - and once it did, they show an extreme lack of common sense in continuing their excessive behavior. I don't see much of a positive future for Ferguson at the moment, and I'd love to be wrong on this, I really would - but I definitely blame the police. Their behavior is what may end out ultimately destroying Ferguson for keeps. Rob

[dmc]

So you were ok with the looting and rioters assaulting the Police? What your really upset about is the police lack of concern over social medias tweets while they are having bricks thrown at them.

I'm sure those chanting "Kill the Police" were just out having a good time and meant nothing by it.

[dmc]

The first pic already looks like much of North St. Louis now. The thugs have already taken over much of that. You should go there and visit.

[Alan]

.... but I definitely blame the police. Their behavior is what may end out ultimately destroying Ferguson for keeps. Rob

I think you've got it exactly wrong. If Ferguson is destroyed it will be the result of looters and rioters inflamed by your much admired social media.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I think you've got it exactly wrong. If Ferguson is destroyed it will be the result of looters and rioters inflamed by your much admired social media.

I guess we just agree to disagree here. I will admit that the looters and rioters did not help the situation at all. Granted. Still, the police heavy handedness in such a racially charged environment was extremely inflammatory and the police need to be called on it and face the music (aka suffer consequences). I'd also like to make it clear that at the moment I am talking of police behavior AFTER the shooting death of Michael Brown. The actual shooting death - that's a whole other unpleasant can of worms and if there is no indictment, I don't think shock and awe is enough to describe how Middle America will feel/react to what may happen in Ferguson and other racially charged environments nationwide. Whatever happens, this is not going to be pretty. Rob

[Packy]

I read MSN "news" online. It is very similar to checkout counter tabloid reading. Anyway, there is the story about the 40 million suit against Ferguson, and another story along side it about the forced circumcisions being performed over there in Kenya. According to the story, no anesthesia is used, and one case resulted in waaay tooo much tissue being removed. Yow. From that perspective, the citizens of Ferguson ought to appreciate the environment and standard of living they've got, instead tearing it apart. Things can always get worse; just look at Dee-troit and Gary, Indiana, and---Kenya.

[gimmethesimplelife]

So you were ok with the looting and rioters assaulting the Police? What your really upset about is the police lack of concern over social medias tweets while they are having bricks thrown at them.

I'm sure those chanting "Kill the Police" were just out having a good time and meant nothing by it.

Not all the protestors were looting and rioting and peaceful protestors were subject to assault and teargas regardless of their innocence and compliance with the law. In my world that equals instant lawsuit - and not just for the chance to start my life over but to encourage the next person to sue and to flatten those who believe they are above the law. My chief motivation would be that latter in this case by far. Rob

PS And if I didn't sue? I'd be guilty of this behavior too from the standpoint of letting them get away with it and not calling them on it. Based on the fact that I have witnessed police brutality before, I would not want to live with this. The police have not earned my having to live with such. (this of course assumes I was in Ferguson and had experienced this police behavior, to be clear)

Something else I came back to add : Right after the shooting death, the first few days of protesting, peaceful protestors marched down West Florrisant Avenue in Ferguson - those complying with the law and not rioting or looting - to find themselves faced with militarized police with military rifles drawn on them. No excuse there period. To me every one who endured this should be getting a large settlement, too.