
Wesley Bell speaks during the dedication of a new community empowerment center in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP)
Overcoming 'Decades of Corruption and Systemic Racism,' Reformer Wesley Bell Ousts Prosecutor Who Let Michael Brown's Killer Off the Hook
"We can't fundamentally reform our criminal justice system if we don't change our criminal prosecutors, and that's exactly what St. Louis County is poised to do."
In a remarkable upset victory that could have a "transformative" effect on St. Louis's deeply racist criminal justice system, progressive reformer and Ferguson city council member Wesley Bell on Tuesday handily defeated 27-year Democratic incumbent Bob McCulloch in the race to become St. Louis County's top prosecutor.
"Wesley Bell and an amazing team of volunteers ousted a 27 year incumbent! With his win tonight St. Louis County Prosecutor-elect Bell is breaking through decades of corruption and systemic racism in the criminal justice system."
--Democracy for America
McCulloch became "notorious" nationwide after his refusal to prosecute police officer Darren Wilson for killing 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014--an event that sparked weeks of protests and galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement.
As Huffington Post senior reporter Matt Ferner noted on Twitter, Tuesday's race was widely viewed as a "referendum on McCulloch's handling" of the Michael Brown case, and voters decided that it is time for a radical change.
Bell--who is expected to coast in November's general election, as there are no Republicans on the ballot--ran on an ambitious and straightforward agenda centered around ending mass incarceration, eliminating cash bail, expanding treatment for drug abuse and mental illness, and ending the deeply harmful practice of harshly punishing non-violent drug and property offenders.
"If we're going to push these changes, I need you to be a part of that too," Bell told supporters during his victory speech late Tuesday. "Lets keep this momentum going. So we can bring change to this county; so that we can be change that's not only going to make people safer, but help people, help families. This is too important, this matters too much, so let's keep moving and pushing St. Louis County, the region, the country, forward. Thank you so much."
\u201cWesley Bell and an amazing team of volunteers ousted a 27 year incumbent! With his win tonight St. Louis County Prosecutor Elect @Bell4STL is breaking through decades of corruption and systemic racism in the criminal justice system. #RingTheBell #ByeBob\u201d— Democracy for America (@Democracy for America) 1533700575
In a statement applauding Bell's upset win, Democracy for America chair Jim Dean said his success "shows us that voters are hungry for prosecutors who understand the structural racism that undergirds our criminal justice system and are committed to delivering on reforms that can fundamentally alter it."
"We can't fundamentally reform our criminal justice system if we don't change our criminal prosecutors, and that's exactly what St. Louis County is poised to do," Dean concluded.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
In a remarkable upset victory that could have a "transformative" effect on St. Louis's deeply racist criminal justice system, progressive reformer and Ferguson city council member Wesley Bell on Tuesday handily defeated 27-year Democratic incumbent Bob McCulloch in the race to become St. Louis County's top prosecutor.
"Wesley Bell and an amazing team of volunteers ousted a 27 year incumbent! With his win tonight St. Louis County Prosecutor-elect Bell is breaking through decades of corruption and systemic racism in the criminal justice system."
--Democracy for America
McCulloch became "notorious" nationwide after his refusal to prosecute police officer Darren Wilson for killing 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014--an event that sparked weeks of protests and galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement.
As Huffington Post senior reporter Matt Ferner noted on Twitter, Tuesday's race was widely viewed as a "referendum on McCulloch's handling" of the Michael Brown case, and voters decided that it is time for a radical change.
Bell--who is expected to coast in November's general election, as there are no Republicans on the ballot--ran on an ambitious and straightforward agenda centered around ending mass incarceration, eliminating cash bail, expanding treatment for drug abuse and mental illness, and ending the deeply harmful practice of harshly punishing non-violent drug and property offenders.
"If we're going to push these changes, I need you to be a part of that too," Bell told supporters during his victory speech late Tuesday. "Lets keep this momentum going. So we can bring change to this county; so that we can be change that's not only going to make people safer, but help people, help families. This is too important, this matters too much, so let's keep moving and pushing St. Louis County, the region, the country, forward. Thank you so much."
\u201cWesley Bell and an amazing team of volunteers ousted a 27 year incumbent! With his win tonight St. Louis County Prosecutor Elect @Bell4STL is breaking through decades of corruption and systemic racism in the criminal justice system. #RingTheBell #ByeBob\u201d— Democracy for America (@Democracy for America) 1533700575
In a statement applauding Bell's upset win, Democracy for America chair Jim Dean said his success "shows us that voters are hungry for prosecutors who understand the structural racism that undergirds our criminal justice system and are committed to delivering on reforms that can fundamentally alter it."
"We can't fundamentally reform our criminal justice system if we don't change our criminal prosecutors, and that's exactly what St. Louis County is poised to do," Dean concluded.
In a remarkable upset victory that could have a "transformative" effect on St. Louis's deeply racist criminal justice system, progressive reformer and Ferguson city council member Wesley Bell on Tuesday handily defeated 27-year Democratic incumbent Bob McCulloch in the race to become St. Louis County's top prosecutor.
"Wesley Bell and an amazing team of volunteers ousted a 27 year incumbent! With his win tonight St. Louis County Prosecutor-elect Bell is breaking through decades of corruption and systemic racism in the criminal justice system."
--Democracy for America
McCulloch became "notorious" nationwide after his refusal to prosecute police officer Darren Wilson for killing 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014--an event that sparked weeks of protests and galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement.
As Huffington Post senior reporter Matt Ferner noted on Twitter, Tuesday's race was widely viewed as a "referendum on McCulloch's handling" of the Michael Brown case, and voters decided that it is time for a radical change.
Bell--who is expected to coast in November's general election, as there are no Republicans on the ballot--ran on an ambitious and straightforward agenda centered around ending mass incarceration, eliminating cash bail, expanding treatment for drug abuse and mental illness, and ending the deeply harmful practice of harshly punishing non-violent drug and property offenders.
"If we're going to push these changes, I need you to be a part of that too," Bell told supporters during his victory speech late Tuesday. "Lets keep this momentum going. So we can bring change to this county; so that we can be change that's not only going to make people safer, but help people, help families. This is too important, this matters too much, so let's keep moving and pushing St. Louis County, the region, the country, forward. Thank you so much."
\u201cWesley Bell and an amazing team of volunteers ousted a 27 year incumbent! With his win tonight St. Louis County Prosecutor Elect @Bell4STL is breaking through decades of corruption and systemic racism in the criminal justice system. #RingTheBell #ByeBob\u201d— Democracy for America (@Democracy for America) 1533700575
In a statement applauding Bell's upset win, Democracy for America chair Jim Dean said his success "shows us that voters are hungry for prosecutors who understand the structural racism that undergirds our criminal justice system and are committed to delivering on reforms that can fundamentally alter it."
"We can't fundamentally reform our criminal justice system if we don't change our criminal prosecutors, and that's exactly what St. Louis County is poised to do," Dean concluded.