The Ferguson Verdict: Tracing the Movement Against Racism
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2014Author
Prusaczyk, Beth
Ravindranath, Divya
Davis, Maxine
Sewell, Whitney
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**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: In our recently published EPW commentary titled “Race in Contemporary America”, we
provided a historical context for the events that took place in August in Ferguson, Missouri,
the United States (US), after Michael Brown Jr, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and
killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. In this commentary, the perspective shifts
from the past to the present. We look at the aftermath of the grand jury’s verdict that
decided not to indict the officer. The decision was one that few believed–but many
hoped–would not come. We attempt once again to provide context for the events that have
taken place over the past few days. We also present the legal process that was used for this
case and describe the community’s effort in organising itself, in anticipation of the grand
jury’s verdict. We also reflect on the state’s reaction to this growing movement, and the
response of the community after the verdict. [This is a publisher's version/PDF of an article published in Journal of Economic and Political Weekly (https://www.epw.in/about-us.html), Vol.49 Issue No 47., on November 22, 2014, available online: https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/47/web-exclusives/ferguson-verdict.html. Obtain permission from the publisher to make it OA.]