Those fighting for justice in the Michael Brown shooting case now have a powerful ally on their side — Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. The Governor released a video on his website in which he passionately demands US Attorney General Eric Holder and St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch enact a “vigorous prosecution” against Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown in what is believed to be a horrific display of police using excess force and racial discrimination.
The Governor was emphatic in his demand for action, stating:
“A vigorous prosecution must now be pursued. The democratically elected St. Louis County Prosecutor and the Attorney General of the United States each have a job to do. Their obligation to achieve justice in the shooting death of Michael Brown must be carried out thoroughly, promptly, and correctly.”
McCulloch is in charge of deciding whether the case gets presented to a grand jury, but many residents of Ferguson and throughout the state feel his close ties with the Ferguson police force — including multiple family members who are police officers — amount to a conflict of interest. McCulloch has shown no sign of recusing himself from the case despite the pleas of Missourians, a decision that could have volatile consequences considering the weeks of violent protests recently experienced in Ferguson. Governor Nixon holds the power to dismiss McCulloch should demands for his ouster become even louder.
