Ferguson fallout: Where do we go from here?

The announcement that a grand jury had chosen not to indict white Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African-American, wasn’t surprising to those who had closely followed the case. The Washington Post reported Oct. 23 that authorities believed their comprehensive investigation had largely corroborated Wilson’s account of events. That is just what St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch said Monday night. He reported that key testimony was provided by black eyewitnesses.

Nevertheless, soon after the decision was announced, violent protests began. Given the fundamental mistrust that Ferguson and so many minority communities have for their local police, this was also no surprise.

After the anger and tear gas dissipate, however, we hope demonstrations give way to people of good will addressing the painful larger issues involving race and justice in America.

This was among the many welcome points President Barack Obama made Monday night after the grand jury decision was announced. He empathized with the Brown family and other families whose sons have died in confrontations with authorities. However, the president was careful to note the difficult job that police have. He also urged that there be an appreciation that “there are good people on both sides of this debate.”

But we acknowledge that will be difficult to accept for those who think the criminal justice system is stacked against African-Americans — and in more communities than the St. Louis suburbs.