Thousands of people took to the streets across America on Tuesday night as protests over the Ferguson grand jury decision not to indict white police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown quickly spread from coast to coast, sharpening the racial divide.
Ferguson town itself witnessed a second night of unrest, but the incidents of violence and arson were kept within check by the massive deployment of National Guards after the free run that rioters were allowed to have the previous night.
African-Americans, along with a sprinkling of white Americans and civil rights activists, staged protest marches in as many as 170 cities across the nation, demanding indictment of Wilson and justice for Brown.
Save for sporadic incidents at some centres, notably Oakland, where police cars were targeted and some stores were looted, the protests were largely peaceful.
President Barack Obama, renewing his appeal for peaceful demonstrations after the widespread arson and looting in Ferguson on Monday night, spoke of the separate investigation being conducted by Attorney General Eric Holder.
“I’ve instructed Attorney General Eric Holder not just to investigate what happened in Ferguson, but also identify specific steps we can take together to set up a series of regional meetings focused on building trust in our communities,” Obama said as he cautiously dwelt on the “frustrations” felt by “many communities of colour” over enforcement of laws.
In the midst of the angry demonstrations, police officer Wilson spoke out publicly for the first time, asserting he acted in self-defence and that his conscience was clear.
In an interview to ABC News, the 28-year-old Wilson said his response had nothing to do with race. Recalling the August 9 encounter, he accused Brown of trying to intimidate him. “As I looked back at him, all of a sudden punches started flying … He threw the first one and hit me in the left side of my face,” Wilson said.
At one point, he spoke of Brown’s immense power (he was 6 ft. 4 in. tall, weighed 300 lbs), remarking: “It was like a 5-year-old holding onto Hulk Hogan. That’s just how big this man was.”
But Wilson, too, is 6 ft. 4 in. tall and reportedly weighs 210 lbs, British journalist Piers Morgan said in a commentary, questioning the police officer’s assertion that he did not have much of an option as he was dealing with a hulk of a man.
Wilson, in his interview, said he could not have done anything differently that day, adding: “The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right.”
He, however, said he felt remorse about the outcome of the altercation. “I think those are grieving parents who are mourning the loss of their son,” Wilson said, adding: “Nothing you could say, but, again, you know, I’m sorry that their son lost his life. It wasn’t the intention of that day. It’s what occurred that day. And there’s no … nothing you could say that’s gonna make a parent feel better.”
The Brown family said in a statement, “We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequences of his actions.” The victim’s mother questioned Wilson how can his conscience be clear “after killing somebody”.