As the anticipation of the Ferguson grand jury decision in the shooting death of Michael Brown finally came to an end Monday night, the world watched as protests in the city turned violent and the community suffered significant damage from looting and arson.
The grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Brown also triggered protests in other U.S. cities, although far less chaotic than Ferguson.
The outrage was fueled by several factors, including a protracted grand jury investigation during the past three months, and a lengthy press conference during which Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch justified the decision and discredited several witnesses, most of whom belong to Brown’s community.
The decision to hold the announcement until well into the evening was heavily criticized and blamed for the outbreak of widespread vandalism and looting, fires and sporadic gunfire.
At least 29 people were arrested during the protests - during which police used tear gas to disperse crowds – but no deaths or serious injuries were reported. Fires destroyed at least 12 buildings in Ferguson.
The discussion delves into the major details of the grand jury’s investigation, including the conflicting views of Wilson and members of the witnesses pool called to testify in the proceedings.
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