Pallone condemns Ferguson decision
Congressman sees non-indictment as 'failure of our justice system'
In the wake of a St. Louis County grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting death of Michael Brown, two federal elected officials representing New Jersey leaders have issued statements — with one local Congressman calling the justice system into question.
In contrast to the more common reactions that largely express condolences to Brown’s family, Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. [right] released a statement Tuesday that calls the non-indictment “a failure of our justice system.”
Pallone stated:
“The St. Louis County Grand Jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson is a failure of our justice system. The principle of ‘Equal Justice under Law’ must apply to all Americans. My thoughts and prayers are with Michael Brown’s family, especially his parents, who have endured such unimaginable pain and hardship over these past few months.”
Meanwhile, Senator Cory Booker published a status message on his Facebook page late Monday to express concern for Brown’s family and condemn further acts of violence as coping mechanisms.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Michael Brown and the entire Ferguson community. I echo their calls for peace and nonviolence. More violence is unacceptable,” the statement reads.
Looking forward, Booker said Brown’s legacy should be used as a springboard to stimulate meaningful conversations about race, police procedures, and the current policies of the criminal justice system.
“Michael Brown’s legacy must amount to much more than tragedy and violent protest – it must be a catalyst for meaningful conversation and ultimately substantive improvements in policing and the overall US justice system. Our nation will not come to agreement on all of the issues surrounding the events in Ferguson. Yet, we can agree on and advance strategies to make our criminal justice system more reflective of our common values. We have work to do,” the status reads.
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