Following the killing of an 18 year old unarmed Michael Brown, and the chaos ensuing involving protesters and the police, Amnesty International has announced that they have sent a delegation to the town of Ferguson, the first time this has happened in the United States, ever.
Amnesty International is a leading organization in the international realm of human rights worldwide. They have gone into war zones and tyrannical states, searching for human rights violations and to spread awareness on such catastrophes. Their United States Executive Director, Steven W. Hawkins, issues a harsh statement on the situation, saying:
?We criticize dictators for quelling dissent and silencing protestors with tactics like curfews, we’ll certainly speak out when it’s happening in our own backyard…The people of Ferguson have the right to protest peacefully the lack of accountability for Michael Brown’s shooting.?
Many people eyeing this situation and especially people actually on the ground in Ferguson, have been highly critical of the tactics implored by the police force. However, the prestige an esteem that Amnesty International has garnered for its years of dedicated work in human rights, makes this new information truly historical.
One can only wait to see if having the presence of such a well known group, keeping an eye on you to the best of their ability, will sway the power in Ferguson and Missouri to behave differently. It is interesting to note that Amnesty International seems to not only be concerned with the protests and clashes with the police, but with the investigation itself. Hawkins’ statement talked about the “lack of accountability for Michael Brown’s shooting.” Amid all of the police actions, looting, robbery videos, and other things that have made this ongoing story more bizarre each day, we cannot lose focus on the main issue at hand; the reason that we are even here. ?Amnesty International revealed three things that they want to see going forward:
-A prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigation into the shooting of Brown must take place. Brown’s family must be kept informed throughout the investigation. Under international law, police officers suspected of having committed unlawful acts must be held to account through effective investigation, and where warranted, prosecuted.
-All police departments involved in policing the ongoing protests in Ferguson in response to Brown’s death must act in accordance with international human rights standards. Any human rights abuses in connection with the policing of protests must be independently and impartially investigated, and those responsible held accountable.
-A thorough review of all trainings, policies, and procedures with regards to the use of force and the policing of protests should be undertaken.
The killing of Michael Brown warrants open and transparent investigation and the arrest of officer Darren Wilson. With a new autopsy report saying Brown was shot at least 6 times, the question of if this act was justifiable seems to lean more towards a “no.” The people do not believe this is happening and until they do, these protests will continue. Let’s hope for more peaceful days and nights in Ferguson and hopefully this will automatically diminish when the right thing is done: Officer Wilson is arrested.
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