The Justice Department released a report regarding its investigation of the Ferguson shooting Tuesday. The report highlights that there has been racial bias against African-Americans in arrests, citations and force the police officers in Ferguson have employed.
The New York Times published an article about it on Tuesday, and the full report was released on Wednesday. The report found a disturbing pattern of behavior within the police department in Ferguson. Most notably, the department exhibited a strong racial bias toward white citizens, with racist comments having been passed through emails between officers. Because of the findings of the investigation, Ferguson police could be sued for violating the Constitution if they do not make formal corrections with the Justice Department.
For those who have paid any bit of attention to the news in the past year, the situation in Ferguson is familiar. When a white police officer, Darren Wilson, was not indicted in November, it caused many people to question the discrimination and bias against his killing of Michael Brown. Ferguson, as well as other places around the US, rioted and protested after the news was released.
The injustice made the riots not necessarily acceptable, but certainly understandable. The racial inequality in Ferguson has been around for years, and this single situation receiving media notice brought attention to the voices of those who had been experiencing it. However, many took a harsh outlook and viewed the response to be representative of the character of these people. Instead of choosing to stand with them and offer empathy, they chose to assume the worst based on the passionate displays of deep anger and hurt.
When the results of the report are evaluated, it gives some needed perspective on the position of citizens in Ferguson. The report detailing the racial bias should not surprise us, but should definitely help us to better understand the perspective of this city. To see the undeniable prejudice implemented against Ferguson officials is disheartening. It gives the citizens’ reactions to the Mike Brown situation greater context. These officers are supposed to offer protection and, instead, have instilled fear in people’s minds and doubt that their right to be protected will be honored. Additionally, the racial injustices performed by Ferguson police will cause honorable officers to be put into question. There are so many different factors that come into play and spiral off into more issues when racism is still prevalent.
Hopefully, those casting judgment on the riots and behavior are able to now see that this has been a long road for the city of Ferguson and that the Michael Brown situation only stirred up the already present anger from the discrimination this city has experienced. Ferguson is just one city. Certainly other places have undergone the same injustice and feelings of helplessness and, unfortunately, will receive no media attention for it.
The investigation and report given by the Justice Department only reinforced what most people were already aware of: racial bias is as real as ever and it’s scary that it exists in some of the people paid to protect all citizens. The findings of the report are unfortunate and a sad representation of how too many people in this country retain a skewed view of a different race. Although it only confirms much of the cynicism felt, hopefully it will change the minds of people who have been quick to defend the Ferguson police department and slow to stand next to those who have experienced racial injustice.
