# Ferguson 2015 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 11, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504 "2015-08-11T00:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/1 "2015-08-11T00:26:21Z")
I just read at VICE [that a State of Emergency™ has been declared for Ferguson and that there have been arrests](https://news.vice.com/article/cornel-west-deray-mckesson-and-others-arrested-as-emergency-declared-in-ferguson). Yesterday the cops shot an 18 year old, though his father says that the police story of the incident is, and this is a direct quote from [the AP story](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FERGUSON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-10-19-28-03), “a bunch of lies”. Will this settle down now or will it escalate again? WTF? :dubious:😕:mad: ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/2 "2015-08-11T00:38:27Z")
Oh, great! e\_e ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/3 "2015-08-11T00:42:15Z")
I watched the story on CNN about last night, when the Police Chief was giving a speech and someone fired probably 15 to 20 shots from the crowd. (I couldn’t count them, there were so many) The cops chased the guy who did the shooting and apparently there was a short gun battle. I don’t have all the facts, but I clearly heard those 15 to 20 shots fired during the speech. Someone clearly wants this to erupt again. here. > **[Ferguson protesters arrested as county declares state of emergency | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/10/us/ferguson-protests/index.html)** > > As police rounded up protesters in St. Louis, a top county official declared a state of emergency, saying violence had marred Ferguson's demonstrations. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/4 "2015-08-11T17:53:42Z")
Not to worry, a bunch of armed vigilantes are patrolling the streets to protect the Constitution. Or something. This will go well. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-usa-ferguson-oath-keepers-idUSKCN0QG0SG20150811?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-usa-ferguson-oath-keepers-idUSKCN0QG0SG20150811?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/5 "2015-08-11T18:13:11Z")
Many thought that a Ferguson police force with a racial composition more similar to the community would help things. Has there been any progress on that? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/6 "2015-08-11T19:06:31Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Not to worry, a bunch of armed vigilantes are patrolling the streets to protect the Constitution. Or something. This will go well. > > [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-usa-ferguson-oath-keepers-idUSKCN0QG0SG20150811?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-usa-ferguson-oath-keepers-idUSKCN0QG0SG20150811?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews) What, no recruiting office in the neighborhood for them to defend? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/7 "2015-08-11T19:12:26Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Yesterday the cops shot an 18 year old, though his father says that the police story of the incident is, and this is a direct quote from [the AP story](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FERGUSON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-10-19-28-03), “a bunch of lies”. At this point, I see no reason not to believe the police that he was armed. There is no doubt that there were a lot of shots fired that did not come from the police. I think I’ll wait for evidence before I decide who to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/8 "2015-08-11T19:18:29Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > At this point, I see no reason not to believe the police that he was armed. There is no doubt that there were a lot of shots fired that did not come from the police. I think I’ll wait for evidence before I decide who to blame. Your post seems to imply that I’ve already made a decision or assigned blame; I haven’t. Just wanted to be clear on that. What evidence have you seen, by the way, that gives you reason not to believe the young man’s father? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/9 "2015-08-11T19:30:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What evidence have you seen, by the way, that gives you reason not to believe the young man’s father? :dubious: I haven’t seen evidence to believe either the police or his father. The story I read seems to show that the police did the right thing. Was his father there? I don’t think there’s any question that you’re attempting to portray this as a bad shoot. I think you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/10 "2015-08-11T20:13:35Z")
“[Welcome to the 2nd Annual Ferguson Riots](http://img.ifcdn.com/images/13f56a5d586d56e95689557981c29dfe1591f2b3ef476fbcd14e024c26404c33_1.jpg)” Maybe for Ferguson 2016 they can schedule some good bands to play and invite a few food trucks to set up. They’ve already got the parade and fireworks figured out. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/11 "2015-08-11T20:21:04Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I haven’t seen evidence to believe either the police or his father. The story I read seems to show that the police did the right thing. Was his father there? > > I don’t think there’s any question that you’re attempting to portray this as a bad shoot. I think you’re wrong. What in my OP makes you think I’m attempting to portray this as a bad shoot? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/12 "2015-08-11T20:48:17Z")
> [@](#): > > About 150 people have been arrested during several days of protests around Ferguson, Missouri, where largely peaceful demonstrations over police shootings of unarmed black men have been punctuated by flashes of violence. > > Police said on Tuesday that 22 people had been arrested overnight in Ferguson and another 63 were arrested for trying to block a highway. On Monday, 57 people were arrested for passing barricades that blocked a federal court in St. Louis. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-ferguson-anniversary-idUSKCN0QE0HI20150811](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-ferguson-anniversary-idUSKCN0QE0HI20150811) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/13 "2015-08-11T21:13:42Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > “[Welcome to the 2nd Annual Ferguson Riots](http://img.ifcdn.com/images/13f56a5d586d56e95689557981c29dfe1591f2b3ef476fbcd14e024c26404c33_1.jpg)” > > Maybe for Ferguson 2016 they can schedule some good bands to play and invite a few food trucks to set up. They’ve already got the parade and fireworks figured out. Proudly sponsored by **SWISHER SWEETS**! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/14 "2015-08-11T21:14:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What in my OP makes you think I’m attempting to portray this as a bad shoot? From your OP: > [@](#): > > Yesterday the cops shot an 18 year old, though his father says that the police story of the incident is, and this is a direct quote from the AP story, “a bunch of lies”. You neglect to mention that he was there to sell a stolen TV, was involved with one of the groups that were shooting at each other, and when followed by the police shot at them. You asked my why I shouldn’t believe the father, implying that you do. Believe it or not, there are times when a police shooting is completely justified, and this may be one of those times. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/15 "2015-08-11T22:11:48Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Not to worry, a bunch of armed vigilantes are patrolling the streets to protect the Constitution. Or something. This will go well. > > [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-usa-ferguson-oath-keepers-idUSKCN0QG0SG20150811?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-usa-ferguson-oath-keepers-idUSKCN0QG0SG20150811?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews) First I heard about this, I got really worried. Perfect situation for things to go really, really bad. But, according to what I’ve heard, nothing much happened at all. The heavily armed white guys just sort of stood there keeping oaths, and nobody responded. Except for all the criticism they took from tighty righty news sources about being intimidating and provocative. I’d link to them all, but, really, who has that much time, there being so many… ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/16 "2015-08-11T23:33:17Z")
…and police release a [video](http://abcnews.go.com/US/surveillance-footage-shows-tyrone-harris-pulling-gun-waistband/story?id=33024044) which shows a man pulling a concealed handgun out after shots are fired. If that is Harris, Jr. then his father will have a harder time convincing folks that he’s an innocent victim. I see the AP story in the OP has been updated to show the father is now declining to discuss the shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/17 "2015-08-12T00:15:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > From your OP: > > You neglect to mention that he was there to sell a stolen TV, was involved with one of the groups that were shooting at each other, and when followed by the police shot at them. Hey, why don’t you point out where in the story I linked to in the OP I could find that information? I look forward to your next post, showing me. I can’t “neglect to mention” things I don’t know, dipshit. > [@Frank](#): > > You asked my why I shouldn’t believe the father, implying that you do. Believe it or not, there are times when a police shooting is completely justified, and this may be one of those times. No, I asked why you shouldn’t believe the father, since your statement explicitly says you believe the police, even tho you have exactly the same amount of evidence from both of them. I didn’t imply anything; you did in your head when you read what I wrote. There’s absolutely nothing in what I wrote to back up what you think I think, but what you wrote clearly indicates that your mind was made up the moment the police told you they _had_ to shoot. You didn’t need video footage, or eyewitness testimony or physical evidence… all you needed was to hear the words the police said, and your mind was made up: you defer to the police version, even without evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/18 "2015-08-12T03:19:43Z")
_Authorities have said Harris is hospitalized in critical condition. Prosecutors have charged him with four counts of first-degree assault on law enforcement, five counts of armed criminal action and one count of discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle._ From CNN, they also have a video of him with a gun. It’s sad he was shot, but face it, shooting at police is a very fast way to get shot in return. I think we can all agree with that. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/19 "2015-08-12T10:57:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No, I asked why you shouldn’t believe the father, since your statement explicitly says you believe the police, even tho you have exactly the same amount of evidence from both of them. So, you didn’t do any research. You read one story and ran with it. I’m supposed to be impressed by that? You’re a real chucklehead. The police were there; the father was not. I understand the actions of a bereaved father saying “it’s all lies”. What I don’t understand is you deciding that he must be right without bothering to look at anything else about the story. Evidence will come out. Medical evidence, ballistic evidence, eyewitness evidence. Video evidence is already out. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504/20 "2015-08-12T12:42:05Z")
This week signals the death of Ferguson as any kind of a viable city. Any meaningful business is going to flee this area and with it will go any homeowners who who value their property. Why would anyone want to live in an area that has a “riot festival” once a year? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-2015/727504.md?page=2)