Protests Over Grand Jury on the Ferguson Shooting

The situation with police abuses and brutality in the United States worsened in the last year despite reforms started following the protests sparked by the shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager by a white policeman in St. Louis’s suburb of Ferguson, Director of War on Racism Coalition Jay Johnson told Sputnik.

At least one person was injured Sunday when shots were reported in the Southwest US suburb of Ferguson, Missouri, where the community was marking the one-year anniversary of an African-American teenager’s shooting death.

Ferguson authorities and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) continue to work on the DOJ report into the city’s law enforcement practices, and on how to address the issues raised amid the unrest after Michael Brown’s shooting in St. Louis’ suburb of Ferguson last year, Ferguson City Council Member Dwayne James told Sputnik on Saturday.

The business owners in Ferguson are planning to keep their businesses open during the weekend of memorial events on the first anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, official spokesperson for the City of Ferguson Jeff Small told Sputnik.

Several hundred law enforcement officers are ensuring that the city of Ferguson is safe amid the ongoing memorial events dedicated to the first anniversary since Michael Brown’s death, official spokesperson for the City of Ferguson Jeff Small told Sputnik.

Former police officer Darren Wilson notoriously known for fatally shooting unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson has unsuccessfully applied to several police positions, according to US media reports.

The effort to remove the mayor of the US city Ferguson hit a roadblock Tuesday after the St. Louis County Board of Elections said a petition for Mayor James Knowles’ recall fell short of signatures, his office said.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that the report on the Ferguson police's excessive use of force would be released in the coming days.

US President Barack Obama’s administration believes that the people of Ferguson should make the decision about who is leading that city.

Too much racism, police-minority tensions and violence still plague the United States, US President Barack Obama told a crowed gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, Saturday.

On December 20, two NYPD officers were shot dead while on duty by an African-American with a long history of arrests and alleged mental illness. The murder took place after weeks of protests across the US over police brutality.

Some witnesses who testified in front of the grand jury investigating the killing of Michael Brown "were not telling the truth", St. Louis county prosecutor said, insisting the jurors were "in a perfect position to assess credibility" of witness accounts.

US President Barack Obama signed an executive order Thursday that sets up the “Task Force on 21st Century Policing” to determine how to strengthen the public’s and local communities trust for law enforcements.

Protests against the police brutality over the killings of unarmed African-Americans by white police officers have prompted US law enforcement officials to respond.

Tens of thousands took to the streets across the US on Saturday to protest police brutality, calling for long-term changes within the police and amendments to US legislation.

US Congressional staffers took to the steps of the US Capitol raising their hands in the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture in a display of solidarity with people protesting against police brutality and unfair sentencing.

The US Senate has passed a bill, which requires states to report the number of individuals who die each year during arrests or in police custody.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has stated the both parties of the US Senate will support the criminal justice system reform in the country.

Sen. Ben Cardin stated that the US Department of Justice and the US congress must pass legislation, banning racial profiling across all law enforcement bodies.