Michael Brown was killed in August after being shot by police officer Darren Wilson. (Photo: AP)
Mar 05, 2015
Attorneys for the family of Michael Brown announced Thursday they are filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Ferguson, Missouri and Darren Wilson, the officer who shot and killed the unarmed black 18-year-old last August.
Brown's death on August 9, 2014 sparked civil rights protests around the country, which continued to grow after a series of high-profile police killings of unarmed black men and women.
"We are officially in the process of formulating a civil case that we anticipate will be filed shortly on behalf of the family," said Anthony Gray, one of the family's attorneys, during a press conference Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after the U.S. Department of Justice said it would not bring federal civil rights charges against Wilson for killing Brown.
Referring to that decision and the grand jury hearings which previously cleared Wilson of wrongdoing in November, Gray said, "In our case, we plan to show and outline pretty much the same evidence; however, you will get a more... accurate [view] of what took place that day."
Another attorney for the Brown family, Daryl Parks, said during the press conference that the Justice Department has "accepted [Wilson's] self-defense. We do not accept his self-defense."
On Wednesday, the Justice Department also released a report on the Ferguson Police Department revealing systematic and often brutal racial prejudice among law enforcement in the city.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Attorneys for the family of Michael Brown announced Thursday they are filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Ferguson, Missouri and Darren Wilson, the officer who shot and killed the unarmed black 18-year-old last August.
Brown's death on August 9, 2014 sparked civil rights protests around the country, which continued to grow after a series of high-profile police killings of unarmed black men and women.
"We are officially in the process of formulating a civil case that we anticipate will be filed shortly on behalf of the family," said Anthony Gray, one of the family's attorneys, during a press conference Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after the U.S. Department of Justice said it would not bring federal civil rights charges against Wilson for killing Brown.
Referring to that decision and the grand jury hearings which previously cleared Wilson of wrongdoing in November, Gray said, "In our case, we plan to show and outline pretty much the same evidence; however, you will get a more... accurate [view] of what took place that day."
Another attorney for the Brown family, Daryl Parks, said during the press conference that the Justice Department has "accepted [Wilson's] self-defense. We do not accept his self-defense."
On Wednesday, the Justice Department also released a report on the Ferguson Police Department revealing systematic and often brutal racial prejudice among law enforcement in the city.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Attorneys for the family of Michael Brown announced Thursday they are filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Ferguson, Missouri and Darren Wilson, the officer who shot and killed the unarmed black 18-year-old last August.
Brown's death on August 9, 2014 sparked civil rights protests around the country, which continued to grow after a series of high-profile police killings of unarmed black men and women.
"We are officially in the process of formulating a civil case that we anticipate will be filed shortly on behalf of the family," said Anthony Gray, one of the family's attorneys, during a press conference Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after the U.S. Department of Justice said it would not bring federal civil rights charges against Wilson for killing Brown.
Referring to that decision and the grand jury hearings which previously cleared Wilson of wrongdoing in November, Gray said, "In our case, we plan to show and outline pretty much the same evidence; however, you will get a more... accurate [view] of what took place that day."
Another attorney for the Brown family, Daryl Parks, said during the press conference that the Justice Department has "accepted [Wilson's] self-defense. We do not accept his self-defense."
On Wednesday, the Justice Department also released a report on the Ferguson Police Department revealing systematic and often brutal racial prejudice among law enforcement in the city.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.