By Karen Stokes
Tensions were high late Monday night in Ferguson, Missouri as residents awaited the decision from the Grand Jury on the fate of Police Officer Darren Wilson, 28, on the shooting of Michael Brown.
St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch announced that the Grand Jury made the decision to not indict Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.
The announcement sparked protests and violence between Brown supporters and law enforcement.
The skies lit up in flames and a dark cloud of smoke covered the area close to where Michael Brown was shot in August.
Many peaceful residents upset with the violence tried to keep the peace and to plead with fellow demonstrators to remain peaceful. This was in vain for a group of angry and frustrated people who were looting, throwing bricks, breaking windows, setting a police car on fire and shooting. Shouts of pain and rebellion rang out along with gunfire.
There are reports from CNN that many of the protesters came to Ferguson from other cities around the country.
To provide additional security for the community, FAA has suspended travel over Ferguson, Missouri.
Planes were not allowed to land at St. Louis airport Monday night.
Schools that were scheduled to be open Monday and Tuesday prior to the Thanksgiving holiday will be closed on Tuesday.
The sitting Grand Jury selected by a judge in May, months prior to the shooting, was compiled of residents to allegedly represent the demographic makeup of the county.
The jury consisted of nine whites and three African Americans. Seven were men and five women.
Grand jury proceedings are usually secret and the files are locked up.
What is unusual with this case is that the transcripts are being released to the public. The grand jury has held meetings on this case from August 20 to November 21.
A Ferguson resident said to CBS news, “We feel the system does not value young Black men.”
Another protester said, ”Wasn’t looking for a conviction, just an indictment, couldn’t even get that.”
“I hurt for my community,” said Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Missouri to CNN.
“I hurt for our young people who worked for non violence, I hurt for the Brown family.”
In solidarity, there were protests erupting in many other cities including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington D.C., Detroit, Oakland and a few dozen people gathered at Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee.
Red Arrow Park has significant meaning to the Milwaukee community due to the shooting of Dontre Hamilton by a Milwaukee police officer a few months ago.
Dontre Hamilton was another Black man whose shooting by the police has the family still looking for answers similar to the Brown family.
The family of Michael Brown has put out a statement: “After the Grand Jury’s decision, we are asking for 4 ½ minutes of silence to remember why we lift our voices.
We are not here to be violent.
We are here in memory of our son.
We are here for protection of all children.
We are here to support justice and equality for all people.
We lift our voices to ensure black and brown men, women and children can lie in this country without being devalued because of the color of our skin.”
President Obama weighed in on the announcement, “There are good people on all sides of this debate.
This is not just an issue for Ferguson, it is an issue for America.”
“I join Michael Brown’s parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully, the president said.
“Michael Brown’s parents have lost more than anyone. We should be honoring their wishes.”
Amy Robach of ABC News reports that Darren Wilson could still face federal charges.
The Justice Department is doing two independent investigations, one on civil rights charges and one into the practices of the Ferguson police force.