Ferguson Grand Juror Sues To Remove Gag Order About Michael Brown Case

Image: blogs.denverpost.com

The American grand jury system has earned its share of judicial lumps. The most recent episode was the probe into whether Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson should have been indicted for Michael Brown's death. Some criticized the St. Louis County prosecutor's handling of the matter, suggesting strongly that the district attorney rigged the case in the cop's favor. One issue with grand jury proceedings its its secrecy. While the county official released hundreds of pages of testimony related to the case, the societal jury is very much out on the propriety of the case.

According to an Associated Press story posted in sfgate.com, a grand juror involved with the Wilson proceedings has filed suit to remove the gag order. The litigation, done in concert with the American Civil Liberties Union, does not aim to eliminate grand jury secrecy. Rather, for what the ACLU and the juror essentially characterized as the good of society, the gag would be removed for just the Wilson case. The juror believes the St. Louis County prosecutor created a distorted perspective regarding the "unanimity" of the grand jury's sentiment.

The juror would like to set the record straight. Hey, why stop justice now?

Five NFL Players Stage Pre-Game Ferguson Protest

The St. Louis "Five's" Protest
Over the Michael Brown-Darren Wilson Incident
in Ferguson, Missouri
(Image: nbcnews.com)

On November 30th, five St. Louis Rams players walked onto their hometown field with their hands up. The gesture imitated the "don't shoot" protest style seen recently in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri. The five made their visual statement before the game against the Oakland Raiders began.

NFL headquarters wisely dodged the issue when quizzed for its response. For a league that has fined players for wearing accessories the NFL did not sanction, its matador PR move was highly unusual. Alas, a spokesperson for St. Louis police officers reacted in ways long on anger and desperately short on brains.

Major pro sports arguably have the highest profile for race relations in the United States. In the 1980s,  many NBA fans were divided along racial lines in the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird debate. Some Caucasian baseball players openly expressed their displeasure about an Obama presidency, including a few who repeated the lie about BO "not being one of us." NFL players have traditionally been condemned to political silence via restrictive contracts and reactionary owners; the St. Louis "Five's" actions should be considered in that context.

The majority of pro athletes come from less than prosperous backgrounds. In the case of African-American players, it's safe to say most are making more money and have achieved more prominence than anyone in their family, among their friends, or in their original neighborhoods. Their material success is often fleeting, while hard times and mean streets stubbornly endure. The black athlete also viscerally understands how young African-American males are viewed by police officers.

It's a wonder that more NFL and NBA players didn't express their opinion about the Ferguson incident during their most recent games. However, one should not interpret their silence as acquiescence to a society that once imagined itself "post-racial".