Amnesty International Sends Monitors to Ferguson

Democracynow.org

After a week that saw a militarized police crackdown and the imposition of a nighttime curfew, Amnesty International USA has taken an "unprecedented" step by sending a 13-person delegation to monitor the developments in Ferguson, Missouri. It is the first time the Amnesty organization has deployed observers inside the United States.

"We sent observers down because there was a need for human rights observers. Clearly there are violations of international human rights law and standards, in terms of how the policing is being done on protests. So, for example, we’ve issued reports on, for example, Israel and the Occupied Territories, how tear gas is supposed to be administered—never in an indiscriminate way where children and the elderly could be subject to very harmful effects, even death, from tear gas. So, we sent down observers to be on the ground. We have been thwarted in our efforts to be able to go out on curfew with the police, which would be a clear standard in these circumstances, as well as the opportunity for the press to be able to be in the space. So, we also went down to make sure that the citizens in Ferguson understood that the eyes of the world were watching, that Amnesty is deeply supportive, and we will be continuing to monitor the situation."

Here's the full interview with Steven Hawkins, executive director of Amnesty International USA; http://www.democracynow.org/2014/8/18/a_human_rights_crisis_in_unprecedented

Nothing wrong with that. It's good to have a credible, human rights organization on the ground during this event.

There's a thread regarding Amnesty's presence in Ferguson? Where?

Yeah there's a thread on this general topic already.

Don't help flood the boards with redundecies

If the mods see fit to lock anything related to the Ferguson because of the Michael Brown thread, then so be it but this particular issue hasn't been examined.

Yeah well...what are you gonna do?

lol as if it matters, dave. The forum is dead.

It's a redundant back and forth over whether the cop was justified in his killing (anyone with a shred of justice knows the answer). Amnesty representatives observing state police actions within a US state is unprecedented. This unprecedented move may very well shed light on how unjust the police have behaved during these protests.

Seeing as the investigation isn't over, there are now 40 FBI agents on the ground, and multiple federal agencies are looking into it, there is no possible way you can come to any conclusion over if the cop was justified or not.

Deadly force by anyone - cop or civilian - isn't self-justifying. The one who uses the force has the burden of affirming justification and it's an extremely heavy burden. Let them attempt to prove his justification if they wish but until they can, the cop will remain a killer of an unarmed teenager

And just so we don't turn this into a Michael Brown Shooting II, what are your thoughts on Amnesty's presence in Ferguson?

Doesn't martial law pretty much remove all Constitutional rights from citizens?

I think there are probably better places they can be.

While the optics of what the police are doing don't look good(coming out in full battle-rattle and using armored vehicles), I haven't heard of any reports of injustice or wrong doing.

Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas and Jail: Ferguson Police Crack Down on Journalists Covering Protests

Protests over the fatal police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown have continued for a 10th night in Ferguson, Missouri. Protesters are calling for the arrest of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who shot the unarmed teenager six times, including twice in the head. According to The New York Times, Attorney General Eric Holder and top Justice Department officials are weighing whether to open a broader civil rights investigation to look at Ferguson’s police practices at large. Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the Ferguson Police Department to stop harassing and detaining journalists. At least 11 journalists have been detained while covering the protests sparked by the shooting of Brown. We speak to Ryan Devereaux of The Intercept. On Monday night covering the demonstrations, he was shot by a rubber bullet, arrested and jailed overnight.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/8/20/rubber_bullets_tear_gas_and_jail

Another one on the check list.

Each journalist was let go once they confirmed they were actually journalists. If this was an attempt to hide a story they would have held them longer.

Why were they detained to being with? Why does it take eight hours of detainment just to confirm their occupation? I guess ID badges doesn't cut it in our dystopian reality now.