不良研究所导航网址

While I share many of the concerns voiced by the demonstrators regarding the systemic inequities still confronting the poor in today鈥檚 environment, to memorialize the anniversary of Brown鈥檚 death as one of a litany of deaths suffered at the hands of police misconduct is to marginalize those cases that belong on that list and should be remembered for the injustices they represent.

The death of Michael Brown does not belong on that list.

Police Officer Darren Wilson had just finished a call where he had left his patrol zone to aid EMTs assisting a young woman of color whose infant had stopped breathing and needed transport to the hospital. As he was headed down Canfield, he heard the radio report regarding the stolen cigarillos and moments later observed Brown with cigarillos in hand and matching the description of the suspect.

Wilson radioed for backup and as he opened his door to confront Brown, Brown forced the door closed, reached through the window, and struck Wilson and in an ensuing struggle over the gun was shot in the fleshy part of his hand. This account was confirmed by bruising on Wilson鈥檚 jaw and scratches on his neck, the presence of Brown鈥檚 DNA on Wilson鈥檚 collar, shirt and pants, Wilson鈥檚 DNA on Brown鈥檚 palm, soot from the muzzle found embedded in Brown鈥� hand, skin from Brown鈥檚 hand on the car door, and the bullet trajectory from the bullet found embedded in the inside of the car.

As established by DNA and blood stains outside the vehicle, Brown then ran at least 180 feet from the police vehicle, before turning around and advancing to within 22 feet of the officer before final shot brought him down.

All these facts are detailed in a report issued by the Obama administration's Justice Department under the leadership of then-Attorney General Eric Holder.

Shortly after the Justice Department issued its report, Jonathan Capehart, writing for聽, observed that the 鈥淗ands up, don鈥檛 shoot鈥� narrative that came out of Ferguson was a lie and cautioned the Black Lives Matter movement not to march under the banner of a false narrative.

Unfortunately, the number of Black lives lost at the hands of law enforcement, some justified and some not, continued and the false narrative of Ferguson survived despite facts, kept alive by individuals who have achieved power and influence because of it.

Although a byproduct of the Ferguson controversy was a reform of predatory traffic enforcement practices, traffic enforcement had nothing to do with Michael Brown, who never had a car or a traffic ticket.

Sadly, false narratives will always claim new victims聽鈥� the latest being the Ferguson police officer injured Friday. ("Ferguson officer still in critical condition with brain injury after Michael Brown protest," Aug. 12.)

Richard Callahan

Former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri