Last night, the Ferguson grand jury spoke, and this morning critics of the decision are speaking as well. Al Sharpton reacted by calling the decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson an “absolute blow to those of us that wanted to see a fair and open trial,” adding, “even when you see a blow coming that you expected, it still hurts nonetheless.”
Other comments made were inexcusable. Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson opined on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that now whites can now shoot blacks and “worry about consequences later,” which is the sort of incendiary statement likely to create further resentment and unrest:
Another individual who spoke out this morning was the man whose life became inextricably wound up with the life — and death — of Michael Brown on Aug. 9. That is of course Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who released a handwritten letter of thanks to his supporters. The text via station KSDK follows, as does an oral recitation:
I would like to thank you all for standing up for me during this stressful time. Your support and dedication is amazing and it is still hard to believe that all of these people that I have never met are doing so much for me. I watched the CNN video we recorded at the rally on Saturday and it brought tears to my eyes.
All of you are simply amazing, and I don’t know how to thank you all enough. I wish I could attend meet you, hug you, and personally thank you for all of your continued support, however, due to my and my families [sic] safety I am unable to. Please don’t give this letter to any media or post it where they can see it. Relay the message of thanks to all and keep this letter private until the investigation is complete.
I want you all to know that I do get updates on the amount of support. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see all of the comments made through social media, but overall messages are relayed to me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and know that I would do the same for any of you.
Also please keep my family in blue in your hearts and prayers, they have all made a sacrifice to their own lives in order to work the excessive hours through the heat and rain to ensure that the riots and protests in Ferguson were as safe as they could be.
Thank you,
P.O. Darren Wilson
