A grand jury in Ferguson, Mo., decided tonight that Darren Wilson will not face charges in the death of Michael Brown, according to reports. The police
officer’s involvement in shooting the unarmed black teenager sparked protests, outrage and calls for justice since the August tragedy, and in the aftermath of the decision, more protests and melee has ensued.Prosecutor Robert McCulloch made the announcement at a nighttime news conference in a courtroom where he spoke about the the 12-person jury’s deliberation, media coverage and social media involvement in the case, and what he referred to as the unreliability of eyewitness accounts. President Obama spoke during a news conference after the announcment, urging peace and indicating his directive to Atty. Gen. Eric Holder to forge better relationships between communities and law enforcement.
Many who watched the announcement took to social media to express their support for the Brown family, as well as their disappointment, anger and sadness. Others expressed support for Wilson and the police in Ferguson. Protesters across the nation demonstrated and rallied, some peaceful and others, according to reports, with looting and altercations.
Take a look at reactions in the aftermath of the grand jury’s decision on the next pages: