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Michael Brown Family, Officer Darren Wilson Release Statements After Grand Jury Decision

Both parties suggest peaceful protests.

After deliberating for two days, on Monday (November 24) the grand jury decision in the Michael Brown case finally came down. Officer Darren Wilson will not be charged in the shooting death of the Ferguson teen.

And while many will likely debate and even protest the grand jury’s decision in the highly charged Ferguson, Missouri, case, Brown’s family was quick to issue an official statement to the public in response to the announcement made on Monday night:

We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions.
While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.
Join with us in our campaign to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body

camera

. We respectfully ask that you please keep your protest peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction.
Let’s not just make noise, let’s make a difference.

Wilson, who was found responsible for the shooting death of the unarmed teen but cleared of any wrongdoing by the grand jury, also issued a statement after prosecutor Robert McCulloch’s press conference on the verdict.

Today, a St. Louis County grand jury released its decision that no charges would be filed in the case involving Officer Darren Wilson. From the outset, we have maintained and the grand jury agreed that Officer Wilson’s actions on August 9 were in accordance with the laws and regulations that govern the procedures of an officer.
In a case of this magnitude, a team of prosecutors rightfully presented evidence to this St. Louis County grand jury. This group of citizens, drawn at random from the community, listened to witnesses and heard all the evidence in the case. Based on the evidence and witness testimony, the grand jury collectively determined there was no basis for criminal charges against Officer Wilson.
Law enforcement personnel must frequently make split-second and difficult decisions. Officer Wilson followed his training and followed the law.
We recognize that many people will want to second-guess the grand jury’s decision. We would encourage anyone who wants to express an opinion do so in a respectful and peaceful manner.
On a side note, Officer Wilson would like to thank those who have stood by his side throughout the process. This continued support is greatly appreciated by Officer Wilson and his family.
Moving forward, any commentary on this matter will be done in the appropriate venue and not through the media.

Officer Wilson fatally shot the Missouri teen on August 9, prompting local citizens almost immediately to rally in protest and demand justice for Brown and his family. They were joined in the ensuing weeks and months by protesters from around the country.As President Obama prepared to make his own statement to the nation, some violence had erupted in Ferguson in the wake of the jury announcement, prompting authorities to declare that protestors have assembled unlawfully.

Numerous officers and the National Guard are on the scene due to a “state of emergency” earlier declared by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon as a preemptive measure to control unrest that might follow the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Wilson.