Eric Holder in Ferguson: ‘We can make it better’

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Attorney General Eric Holder promised change Wednesday while traveling to Ferguson, Missouri, which has been rocked for days with tensions and unrest among protesters and law enforcement.

“We can make it better,” Holder said, responding to a local mayor, while meeting diners at a local restaurant.

Holder arrived in the St. Louis suburb Wednesday morning, which has been the scene of tense protests since the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was fatally shot Aug. 9 by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Holder met with community leaders and is expected to meet with investigators from the FBI and prosecutors from both the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

...snip...

Earlier in the day Holder met with community leaders and students at the Florissant Valley Campus of St. Louis Community College. The meeting was closed to the press, but the Justice Department said Holder spoke to a group of 50 members of the Ferguson community for 15 minutes before taking questions.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/eric-holder-in-ferguson-we-can-make-it-better-110196.html#ixzz3AxvF2xjS

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/eric-holder-in-ferguson-we-can-make-it-better-110196.html?hp=t3_3

[BaggersRDumb]

1. given the local DA is a rabid teabagging racist, this should be fun

[PeoViejo]

2. Standing around singing Kumbaya and wondering about the negative effects on Police Employment

ain't gonna' cut it, Eric.

[gordianot]

5. I cannot remember the last time I heard Kumbaya.

Like most motivational speeches and speakers it is an instant turn off. I will give Holder credit right now he has the worst job on the planet.

[zeemike]

3. “We can make it better,”

I am sick of these weak statements...how much better Eric?...a little better or what?
Fuck that shit, we need to solve the problems not make them a little better.

[840high]

14. I'd like to know how

he'll make it better. Does he have a plan?

[zeemike]

22. That is why the weak word better is used.

Because anything he does can be considered making it better...talk to the parents makes it better...write a letter makes it better.
But if the murderer is not held accountable he has not done shit, sense his job is supposed to be justice.

[jtuck004]

4. Got a plan? I think hope has already been tried, and failed. n/t

[pinto]

6. I think the meat of the plan will be played out in meeting FBI ivestigators, prosecutors

from both the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Not as a TV spot or public community meeting.

[cleduc]

8. To their credit, they're looking at the situation

I realize people want action now and what that might sound like.

But if they're going to solve the problem properly or in a meaningful way, they have to look or research, get their facts, develop an approach, get consensus, implement or act, etc. No matter what, it's going to take some time to do it right.

One thing I read that was encouraging is they're looking beyond Mike Brown - at the guy who got charged for getting blood on the officers uniforms and a broader assessment of civil rights violations in the city of Ferguson.

With the cigarillos robbery, they may have trouble making a civil rights case against Wilson.

But with a broader approach, in some respects, they might get the whole Feruson police force for profiling or some other unfairness. That would be big.

When I hear that, I'm encouraged that they're not content with the status quo and are thinking outside of the box to try to do something meaningful.

Having said that, actions speak louder than words while patience is a virtue.

[cleduc]

10. Further to my post

Here's some of Holder's words:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/a-message-to-the-people-of-ferguson/article_ea8b7358-67a3-5187-af8c-169567f27a0d.html

At the same time, good law enforcement requires forging bonds of trust between the police and the public. This trust is all-important, but it is also fragile. It requires that force be used in appropriate ways. Enforcement priorities and arrest patterns must not lead to disparate treatment under the law, even if such treatment is unintended. And police forces should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Over the years, we have made significant progress in ensuring that this is the case. But progress is not an endpoint; it is a measure of effort and of commitment. Constructive dialogue should continue — but it must also be converted into concrete action. And it is painfully clear, in cities and circumstances across our great nation, that more progress, more dialogue, and more action is needed.

This is my pledge to the people of Ferguson: Our investigation into this matter will be full, it will be fair, and it will be independent. And beyond the investigation itself, we will work with the police, civil rights leaders, and members of the public to ensure that this tragedy can give rise to new understanding — and robust action — aimed at bridging persistent gaps between law enforcement officials and the communities we serve. Long after the events of Aug. 9 have receded from the headlines, the Justice Department will continue to stand with this community.

[Iamthetruth]

24. You are correct

Some what justice and some just want revenge. Revenge solves nothing, justice is long lasting.

[cleduc]

25. For me, I'm beyond merely thinking about justice

I'm way beyond revenge.

150 years after the Civil War. 50 years after MLK. And so many others who died or sacrificed.

We have a man as president who I think is absolutely wonderful, the best president ever to me and a racist congress who won't work with him - putting their ignorant hatred ahead of their country and it's people. Some of the ugly things they've said or lied about him make me cringe and feel wounded for him. And from a distance, the blacks in places like Ferguson see this.

I could fill in with so many more examples like Trayvon Martin - not only with the injustice of letting his murderer go free but with the awful racism that sprung up to belittle the victim and "his kind". Makes me sick.

And tonight in Ferguson, unarmed Mike Brown lies dead. Henry Davis is having to appeal his case against four officers who wrongfully arrested him and after they beat him because he wouldn't accept sleeping on a concrete floor, charged him with getting blood on their uniforms. The city government, school board & police force are almost 100% controlled by a white minority who issue more warrants per year than they have people and 50% more court cases than households disproportionately against blacks. And that drives the blacks deeper into poverty, depriving them of their right to vote because there's a warrant or a felony conviction against them. That leads to taking "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" away from them. Makes my head spin.

Maybe overwhelmed with disdain for this situation, I'm reading this wrong and overreacting but it sure looks like blatant oppression to me. 14,160 blacks live in Ferguson - in something that resembles a police state ... "in the land of the free". And this appears to have been happening ALL THEIR LIVES!!!

It's outrageous. Unbelievable in this day and age. A terrible disgrace and stain on this country.

I feel embarrassment, shame, disgust, frustration, anger, contempt, sadness, disappointment .... my heart aches for these people and what they've been put through. Many must feel hopeless.

We can't waste our time on revenge. Getting some justice may help to deter others and provide some healing but there may not be enough courts and judges to get all that done in our lifetimes. Look at all the effort it's going to take to deal with one cop who shot an unarmed man.

So they have to find a way to fix this problem faster.

When I see this problem, it leaves me wondering "where else is this happening?" Maybe there are things like arrest stats by race or ratios of white vs black government leaders vs mix of race in the population that could help identify them.

And then Ferguson can be used as a model of empowerment to solve the broader problem. Maybe the "fix" could be a series of steps that other communities or cities can execute.
- pardons for a bunch of the warrants or laws that ignore felons/warrants to allow them to vote
- recall the city government, school board, etc and hold a new vote
- dismiss the worst offenders on the police force - those with the most complaints or something like that
- hiring freeze on whites for all positions in city government, police, fire dept, etc until the racial imbalance is corrected
- implement body cams for the police force
etc

The black community leaders should be consulted and involved to help design what is effective and appropriate.

To me, something like that is what is needed here. And needed soon.

[Cha]

16. AG Holder is a whole hell of a lot smarter than those on the internet whinging

about "hope".

[msanthrope]

20. The 101st Chairborne have no solutions, only whinging. nt

[BeyondGeography]

26. Slinging barbs on an Internet forum

It's a tough gig. Nothing like going out there into deep red America and trying to alter ancient human behaviors. No sir.

[Cha]

27. I just saw the Larry O'Donnell show including AG Holder in Ferguson, MO.. the students, Ron Johnson,

and Professor Wesely Bell were all interviewed and were so glad he was there. Talking about how Unprecedented it is to have an AG come to a town in crisis like this and for the President to be involved.. so nice to see the interactions of Holder and the students. The reality of it.. not some internet posters' version of what they think is going on.

"Slinging barbs on an Internet forum.. It's a tough gig Nothing like going out there into deep red America and trying to alter ancient human behaviors"

Well said, BG

And L O'D did an excellent job eviscerating the NYT police report today!

[Warpy]

7. Meanwhile, I imagine Homeland Security

is coordinating the attempted crackdown in Ferguson, the same way they did it on OWS.

[brooklynite]

9. Let's be clear: you're accusing President Obama of being involved?

Last time I checked, DHS was part of the Executive branch.

[Warpy]

13. nice straw man

[brooklynite]

21. Okay - you're saying President Obama is incompetent?

He's not in control of one of his Departments?

[Cha]

17. What the hell are you even going on about?

[Kelvin Mace]

11. That remains to be seen

I, however, am VERY skeptical.

[ReRe]

12. K&R for exposure

Can you say "lip service," boys and girls?

"We can make it better." "We want to listen." "Things are going to change."

Wait a minute... is that all he has to say? That's it? Sure would be nice to know some specifics, Eric. HOW are you going to make it better? You better damn listen! HOW are things going to change? WHEN are things going to change? WHAT is going to change?

Otherwise, that sounded like what one would say to a child who just stumped his toe.

I almost give the eff up.

[840high]

15. Give it 3 months and Holder

won't even remember going there.

[ReRe]

19. Hell...

... he won't even be there any more. He's supposed to resign by the end of the year, isn't he?

[Cha]

18. Thank You, AG Holder for being

there in Ferguson, MO for Michael Brown

[moutonnoir]

23. DOJ is Managing info to embarass protesters

DOJ has been managing the flow of information for maximum embarrassment of protesters, as well as the eventual exoneration\exaltation of the ongoing police militarization.

This is proven by the order of information being released. Public information as well as important aspects proving Dorian and Brown are both repeat criminals has been withheld until after national protest groups arrived.

Now the right wing racists get to repeat their tired anti-protest mantras while the right\left false paradigm is reinforced for the voting public.

Want proof?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/16/doj-robbery-video-michael-brown-ferguson_n_5684654.html

CNN revealed on Saturday that the Department of Justice found out about the video earlier this week and asked police not to make it public. According to CNN, the DOJ was worried that the footage would spark more violence in Ferguson.

Only a small child would fall for this double talk- any early proof of Dorian's outstanding warrant, and the duos earlier robbery would have helped QUELL volence.. not incite it..This is basic doublespeak.. Orwell would blush.

[JustAnotherGen]

28. Good on Holder!

I'm betting the DOJ goes the Civil Rights route. Wilson may never be tried as a criminal - but I'd bet there are some serious civil rights violations being looked into from the top down - and that 'case' might be bigger than just this incident.