I believe that I’ve earned myself a pretty good bit of progressive “street cred” over the past few years of writing. I’ve lobbied hard for equal pay for women, equal rights for the LGBTQ community, tighter gun safety laws, and access to a doctor for every sick person in America. If Bernie Sanders decides to run for President, I will work on his campaign.
That is why I need to speak out against the decision not to prosecute Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown.
I need to speak out against those who feel like justice was not served.
I need to expose a bit of hypocrisy.
I need to call out the “liberal media” and the 24-hour news cycle.
I want to remind you all that in America, people are innocent until proven guilty. I’m disappointed that for whatever reason in the Ferguson case the concept of “justice” was bastardized to only apply if the results were what the public thought it should be.
To paraphrase my favorite old lady from a Geico commercial – That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.
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There WAS justice in Ferguson. A Grand Jury looked at ALL of the evidence and talked to ALL of the witnesses, and decided that Officer Wilson was justified in his actions.
That’s justice.
That’s how the legal system works.
Justice does not mean that you get what YOU want – It means that we have a system of due process that ensures that facts and evidence are weighed more than what emotions and Rachel Maddow think. I know that seems weird coming from someone with a pretty liberal track record, but if progressive causes are going to ever get anywhere, we can’t behave like this. We can’t riot, loot, shoot at cops, destroy cities, and cause millions of dollars when we don’t get what “we” feel is “justice.” That’s a mob, that’s not justice.
It’s your own fault. When the media shapes a narrative to fit what THEY want you to feel, you have to exercise the same critical thinking skills that we often deride conservatives for lacking. If you are outraged at the Cliven Bundy’s of the world, you have to also be upset at the actions in the aftermath of the Ferguson decision.
The fact is that Michael Brown wasn’t an innocent, unarmed teenager. Michael Brown was a guy who just robbed a convenience store and who was involved in a life-or-death struggle with a police officer that he assaulted right before he was shot to death. You want to show support? Understand that the second somebody lunges for a gun, deadly force is on the table. Period. Cops are here to protect and serve, and a damn vast majority of them are honest, hardworking men and women who put their lives in danger every day that they punch in. No, it’s not what you were told constitutes justice, but that’s the facts, and that’s the reality of the situation.
Does racism still exist? Yes.
Do racist cops still exist? Yes.
Are minorities disproportionately targeted by law enforcement? Yes.
The only black and white issue in Ferguson is that you should never assault a cop and try to take his gun.
I’m sure the old man who just got carjacked is looking for some justice tonight in Ferguson. I’m sure the businesses that are on fire right now are wondering how justice is being served.
Know justice, know peace.
-Sean Kemmerer is a freelance writer, administrator of Politics Without The Crazy Pills , and is happy to report that our good friend Cletus T. Cousinhumper has returned to Facebook. Give him a like.