Federal civil rights charges unlikely against police officer in Ferguson shooting

[branford]

82. You're right, civil rights charges are not murder charges.

A federal civil rights charge would be much more difficult to prove than simple murder, a basic fact which you seem to refuse to accept.

In any federal trial, the government would not only essentially need to prove the underlying murder, but also that it was done willfully to deprive Brown of his civil rights. The higher standard and evidentiary difficulties of this latter component has been explained by myself and others on numerous occasions.

General claims that everyone everywhere is racist is not only ridiculous, it in no way substitutes for actual evidence. You cannot convict Wilson of murder or any other crime because racism exists, or is even pervasive, in Ferguson, St. Louis or anywhere else. Wilson is presumed innocent, and in any trial, the government will need to that Wilson actually and specifically committed each and every element of any offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt with admissible evidence, and the government's claims will be carefully and zealously tested by defense counsel.

Moreover, among those involved in this matter are a number of African-Americans. If the AA grand jurors do not vote to indict, are they racist? Are any AA witness who allegedly support Wilson's account racist? Is AG Eric Holder, no less President Obama, racist if they believe insufficient evidence exists to procure a conviction against Wilson? Are any AA FBI agents or other experts who examine evidence and then potentially support Wilson's story racist? Additionally, is forensic evidence like autopsies, GSR and blood tests, racist?

Despite the cognitive dissonance it may cause, you need to accept that individuals, regardless of race, that do not view the incident through your exact personal lens, are not all racists or protecting the police, and that your preconceived notions and personal judgment does not substitute for actual evidence.

You can believe that Wilson committed murder, and you may very well be right. Nevertheless, for a conviction, the charge must be proved it court. There is no "everyone is racist" exception to a criminal defendant's constitutional protections.