U.S. Mayors React to Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

Mayors from across the nation released statements on Monday night following a St. Louis County grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in August. Here is a sampling of what they said.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed in a statement:

This evening, a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri has decided not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown.

This announcement is likely to spark understandable feelings of frustration, not only in Ferguson, but across the country.

However, while many are saddened and angered by the grand jury’s decision, I urge everyone taking part in demonstrations to do so in a peaceful manner. I support the efforts of local leaders to promote non-violent expression by self-policing and elevating the voices of community members.  Equally important, I believe we should respect the wishes of Michael Brown’s father, Michael Brown Sr., that all protests be conducted in a way that honors his son’s memory, rather than distract from it. It is also essential that all local, state, and federal law enforcement officials show proper restraint and respect every citizen’s constitutional right to assemble. Atlanta’s history demonstrates that we can come together and protest in a non-violent and peaceful fashion.

Going forward, I encourage the United States Department of Justice to conduct a complete review of how Michael Brown’s killing has been handled thus far. Both the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation have opened civil rights investigations, and I look forward to the release of their findings.

Finally, let's not forget what this case is really about. It's about the deep pain and sorrow that a mother and father have lived through since their son was killed more than three months ago. We must view this case, not just through our own eyes, but through the eyes of parents who lost a child. While this decision does not do justice to Michael Brown and his family, it serves as an opportunity for Atlanta, and the rest of the nation, to engage in a thoughtful conversation on how to build greater trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray in a Facebook post:

My message to the young African American men in Seattle today is this: While we do not have the answers today, we in this city are listening to you. Your city hears you. And your city loves you.

In this hour of pain, your city is absolutely committed to moving forward with you, together, towards greater peace and greater justice.

My message today to all Seattle residents is to ask that we all reach out to our neighbors—across racial and cultural lines in particular—commit to a promise of making our city a better place.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto in a statement:

Ferguson may be hundreds of miles away, but the reverberations from August’s shooting are still felt, understandably, in Pittsburgh and other cities nationwide. I know it this is hard right now, but it is my fervent hope that in coming days we can use this decision as an opportunity to come together—in peace and in prayer—to do the necessary work of strengthening ties between residents and police, and finding new paths to mutual trust and understanding.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James in a statement:

I’m a 62-year-old black man. I lived through the assassination of Martin Luther King. I came of age during the Civil Rights Movement. I spent years in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. I’ve seen my fair share of generational events.  Ferguson is a generational event and I understand the emotions around this decision.In the Spring of 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King was assassinated, I found myself in a precarious situation, probably not unlike some young people experienced in Ferguson after Michael Brown’s death.  I was at the intersection of 44th and Montgall, going home from the Kitty Clover potato chip factory where I was working to earn money for the prom, when national guard troops lit up the dark night with spot lights and forced us on the ground and held us at gunpoint because we were out after curfew. Three of us were black and one white.  Our skin color didn’t matter when our faces hit the pavement. It’s important to remember that regardless of color, we all feel pain.

Many people are in pain this evening because of this decision. I encourage our community to take to prayer, reflection, and even peaceful protest. Peaceful freedom of expression is a basic right afforded to each of us. There is no right to destroy property or hurt people, however.Strong communities overcome adversity not by violence, but by upholding strong virtues. Rather than fighting with our fists, let’s fight to eliminate the conditions that led to this young man’s death.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, according to WDJT-TV:

I have respect for the rule of law, civil rights and the right to peacefully assemble. In Milwaukee, I appreciate the peaceful and respectful manner in which individuals have expressed their frustration. The Milwaukee Police Department is prepared for every possible development. I am hopeful any demonstration or protest will be civil and safe.

Rochester, N.Y., Mayor Lovely Warren in a Facebook post:

I know that many members of our community are upset about the decision today in Ferguson. I am too. As I was thinking about how to respond, I went back to how the situation started: With a young, unarmed black man and an authority figure who had little regard for this young man’s life.

I pray that today the authorities in Ferguson have learned from the mistakes they made – even after this tragic incident. But I know that is not enough, and many of us in Rochester may feel the need to speak out. Like we did in the Trayvon Martin case, we will support a community event where we can come together peacefully and in solidarity for the life lost, and for what’s right. Community members will gather at the Liberty Pole this Sunday at 1 p.m., and march to the Federal Building. I will post more details soon.

President Barack Obama said on Sunday that the way back, the way to keep future incidents from occurring, is for our law enforcement to be “sensitive to the concerns of minority communities, then over time trust can be built.” I wholeheartedly agree, and this is why we have taken steps to change the way we do business here in Rochester. We've made strides, but still have a ways to go.

In Rochester, you have a Mayor that cares. We have a police chief who cares. Above all, we have a community who cares.

We still have great inequalities in our City. I’m calling on our residents to use the decision in Ferguson as a chance for dialogue, a chance to talk about why this shook all of us, and as a chance to talk about solutions.

This is how we move forward, not through violence, but by acknowledging and reconciling our differences.

Portland, Ore., Mayor Charlie Hales, according to The Oregonian:

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Ferguson, Mo.; to the residents, the police and the family and friends of Michael Brown. We all feel the pain of the loss of a young man's life. We, as a society, have a lot of work to do addressing the systemic inequities history has left us.

Sacramento Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Kevin Johnson in a statement:

Once again, our hearts go out to the family of Michael Brown who tragically lost his life much too soon, as well as to the entire Ferguson community, which has endured the consequences of this event and its aftermath. The nation's mayors strongly believe that there should have been open-court proceedings in the case of the officer-involved shooting of Michael Brown so that the evidence could have been presented in a public forum, and a verdict could have been rendered by a jury.

We hope that prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch will release the full transcript and audio proceedings of the Grand Jury as he promised in September. This will ensure that Michael Brown's family, as well as the community and the American public will have a greater understanding of what happened on August 9. As leaders of cities across the country, we are committed to working with our communities to ensure that this tragedy is never repeated.

There is an understandable feeling of discontent in the community, and there will no doubt be protests. Our hope is that any demonstrations that occur will be peaceful and nonviolent so that we can begin to heal from this difficult time.

District of Columbia Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser in a statement:

We cannot address gaps in understanding in our cities without peace. As Washingtonians, let's stand with Michael Brown's family in their call to find meaningful solutions to long-standing inequities. With the Brown family searches for comfort in their hearts, we should support them by acting peacefully, working tirelessly for change and living to better understand one another.