A Justice Department investigation has found an extreme pattern of racial bias by police officers in Ferguson, Mo., reinforcing what protestors have been saying since the August 2014 killing of unarmed black teenager Mike Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson. The scathing DOJ report accuses Ferguson police officers of sending racist emails on city email accounts, conducting unjustified traffic stops of black residents for years, and of using excessive force.
The full report is expected Wednesday. Ferguson officials now face the choice of settling with the DOJ over civil rights violations or being sued on charges of violating the Constitution.
Avvo legal analyst Lisa Bloom has covered the story since August, noting the many ways in which the justice system failed Brown and Ferguson residents. Read Lisa’s response to the DOJ report, plus her coverage of the events in Ferguson, below.
Lisa Bloom responds to DOJ report on racial bias in Ferguson
New DOJ report: massive pattern of racial bias by Ferguson PD, including racist emails, unjustified traffic stops, and excessive force.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Thank you Ferguson protestors for keeping attention on the massive racial bias in your community, leading to today's scathing DOJ report.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
ICYMI: consistent w today's report re racial bias at Ferguson PD, my analysis of bias in system protecting Ofc Wilson http://t.co/r0QdMw52Lf
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Imagine being a black Ferguson resident, where cops make racist Obama jokes like "what black man holds a steady job for 4 years." Sickening.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Darren Wilson was right, when he told the grand jury that the police view of Ferguson residents was that they were "not very well-liked."
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Today's DOJ report can be added to the mountain of data about racial bias in our justice system. And now, let's do something about it.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Consider how potent the racism is when Ferguson police email racist jokes to each other while publicly denying protestors' bias claims.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
I've been a civil rights lawyer since 1986, friends. We rarely uncover racist emails like those found at Ferguson PD. Most avoid these now.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Racist Ferguson PD humor: a black woman had an abortion, got a check 2 weeks later from Crime Stoppers. Utter contempt for people they serve
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Next step in Ferguson: agree to massive revamping of PD, led by DOJ, or federal lawsuit to require same, which Ferguson will lose.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
I've been critical of current DOJ, but give kudos today for sweeping report on unconstitutional racial bias in Ferguson.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Source: http://t.co/lJoKCCYOEM
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
To everyone who criticized the Ferguson protestors: they were right, you were wrong. http://t.co/DQosqUw87n
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Ferguson PD: given today's scathing DOJ report on your racially biased policing, how about starting with an apology to the AfAm community?
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
I would like to thank @deray for his tireless work exposing injustice in Ferguson, which directly led to today's important DOJ report.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
I would like to thank @Nettaaaaaaaa for her tireless work exposing injustice in Ferguson which directly led to today's important DOJ report
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Thank you @MsPackyetti for your nonstop work exposing injustice in Ferguson, which directly led to today's DOJ report.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) March 3, 2015
Lisa Bloom covers events in Ferguson
Feb. 19, 2015: Lisa Bloom on how the legal system failed in Ferguson
Jan. 8, 2015: It’s not over in Ferguson: 3 formidable legal moves against prosecutor Bob McCulloch
Dec. 19, 2014: Witness 40 is a racist liar. Why did the Ferguson prosecutors have her testify?
Nov. 25, 2014: Avvo legal analyst Lisa Bloom covers Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to indict
Nov. 23, 2014: Anonymous to Ferguson KKK: ‘We are the law now’
Sept. 25, 2014: The long, strange path to charges (or not) against the police officer who killed Michael Brown
Aug. 21, 2014: Lisa Bloom answers your top questions on the Michael Brown case
Aug. 13, 2014: The shooting of Michael Brown: Why it’s time to move beyond condolences
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Avvo.