On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old
Michael Brown
(known as “Big Mike” by friends and family) was shot and killed as he walked down a street in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, though unarmed, was shot multiple times by a Ferguson police officer. He had just graduated high school and was set to begin college at Vatterott College the Monday following his murder. Brown’s unjust killing has sparked an outrage throughout the African-American community and the wider American community alike. Protests took place nationwide for the slain teen. In addition, there were riots in the teen’s home town, with police turning on protesters and journalists with tear gas and rubber bullets. A St. Louis County grand jury decided not to indict
Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of
Michael Brown
on November 24. The jury, made up of nine whites and three Blacks, first convened in August to hear evidence in the case and heard from Wilson, who gave testimony to the jury in September.