The decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson will further divide our communities and saddens us as leaders of nearly three dozen of our region’s congregations, faith and ethical communities.
Frustrated youth and law enforcement officials worship together within our doors. Our Clergy Caucus is called to consecrate the streets of St. Louis as safe places for all our citizens, and in particular our black and brown children and brothers and sisters. We are called to discern and name all systems, institutions, and processes that dehumanize black and brown people and that distort the purposes of justice, peace, and equality that we believe God intends for this region.
The decision not to indict was made by a jury of twelve citizens who saw and considered all the evidence over a period of many weeks. We don’t put people on trial if there is not probable cause to indicate they committed crimes. The young man’s death was a tragedy, but not a murder. Saying that they are “saddened” by a justice system process which was followed scrupulously does not help.