“Whatever the grand jury decides in Missouri will not bring Michael back,” Michael Brown Sr., father of the slain 18 year old, Michael Brown, told members of the U.N. “We also understand that what you decide here may save lives. If I could have stood between the officer, his gun, and my son, I would have.”
The parents of Michael Brown, the teen who was shot by on duty police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO, testified in Geneva, Switzerland this week for the United Nations Committee Against Torture. This will be one of the few times that police brutality in the United States has been garnered international attention.
Michael Brown, who was unarmed, was shot August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri, which is a suburb of St. Louis. He was 18 years old and had planned to attend technical college on August 11, 2014, just two days after he was murdered.
Darren Wilson has not been charged with any crime, and many people interested in the case are awaiting a decision to be made by the grand jury regarding this case. According to CNN, gun sales have dramatically increased due to many Ferguson residents are saying that they are “fearful” of the reactions that will be made after the grand jury decision. After the shooting, many residents of Ferguson began protesting, which led to police intervention and more police brutality. Protestors have been pepper sprayed, arrested, and at least 1 has been killed. With gun sales soaring, a protest still in effect, and international attention acquired, many Americans are bracing themselves for the verdict.
Although Brown was unarmed, Wilson says that he fear for his life as the reason for shooting, and ultimately killing, Brown. Darren Wilson had garnered over $400,000 in crowdfunding from supporters before the GoFundMe was mysteriously shut down. According to the International Business Times, Shield of Hope, a non-profit organization, assisted in another GoFundMe page to assist Darren Brown with potential legal fees. The campaign has since been put on hold. A grand jury decision is expected to be reached this week.
Laje Reine
