Here, excerpted from an article at cnn.com, is a version of what happened between Michael Brown and Officer Darren Wilson that was called into Saint Louis\’ radio station KFTK. I assure you that the al sharptons and jesse jacksons of the world would rather you don\’t know a thing about it. But in this blog, we show all sides, so here it is:
Accordingto the account on St. Louis radio station KFTK, phoned in by a womanwho identified herself as “Josie,” the altercation onAugust 9 began after OfficerDarren Wilson rolled down his window to tell Brown and a friendto stop walking in the street.
WhenWilson tried to get out of his cruiser, Brown first tried to push theofficer back into the car, then punched him in the face and grabbedfor his gun before breaking free after the gun went off once, thecaller said.
Wilsonpursued Brown and his friend, ordering them to freeze, according tothe account. When they turned around, Brown began taunting Wilson,saying he would not arrest them, then ran at the officer at fullspeed, the caller said.
Wilsonthen began shooting. The final shot was to Brown\’s forehead, and theteenager fell two or three feet in front of Wilson, said the caller,who identified herself as the officer\’s friend.
Asource with detailed knowledge of the investigation later told CNNthe caller\’s account is “accurate,” in that it matches whatWilson has told investigators.
Iftrue, the account represents the first telling of events from theperspective of Wilson, whose shooting of Brown has touched offviolent nightly protests in the suburban St. Louis city, and promptedGov. Jay Nixon to call out the National Guard.
Do I know whether “Josie” is telling the truth? Nope.
Which puts her account in exactly the same place as every other one.
Why should I believe her “eye-witness” version of what happened any more or less than anyone else\’s?
And what does this tell you about what is happening in Ferguson, Missouri – other than that a lot of people are making a lot of noise and doing a lot of damage over something they haven\’t the slightest wisp of verifiable knowledge about.
That may suit the racial arsonists like sharpton and jackson just fine. But I am certain it doesn\’t suit most of the people in Ferguson – Black or White – one little bit.
One more thing. In case people are getting the wrong idea about Ferguson, Missouri (and I have little doubt there are plenty of them). Let me again remind you, as I have in previous blogs, how few people are causing trouble there.
The TV coverage makes it seem like just about everyone in town is out there. But that could not be further from the truth.
Ferguson, Missouri has about 14,000 Black residents. Watch your TV and note how many are out there rioting, looting or behaving in a disorderly manner (as opposed to protesting, which anyone is entitled to do). Is it 100 or maybe, at most, 200?
I doubt it is as much as 200 – but say that it is even 300.
Now, assuming they are all locals (which probably is not true), subtract 300 from 14,000 and you get 13,700. That is how many Black people in Ferguson out of 14,000 are not rioting, looting or disorderly.
Please, please keep this reality in mind.
