The unfortunate incidents of two black youths being killed by Ferguson police officers over the last two months are fueling violence, but the violence is not unfolding based on the facts. Many of the black residents don't want to hear the facts. They want a vigilante verdict.
We never really hear the whole story, but every time an incendiary incident happens, there is more violence, rioting and looting.
Most of the news reports of what happened to Michael Brown never mention his actions prior to his unfortunate death. The reports of the latest killing of a black youth only mention that he fired at police officers as a footnote before telling us officers shot and killed him.
Neither investigation is complete, but that does not matter to a community of angry blacks. The community of 21,000 residents is predominantly black, and the police force is overwhelmingly white.
Violence and destruction are not the answer, but "they" have not gotten the memo.
Recently, I interviewed the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and asked her if community leaders were trying to calm the situation. Dr. Alveda King said yes, but they were falling short of the impact they needed. The community leaders are fighting the current situation and the volatility of emotions over facts.
Businesses are not going to start or reopen in Ferguson. The few that will survive will do just that – survive, and the residents will be at a disadvantage.
Law enforcement is not easy, and every time there is an unfortunate incident or evidence of potential abusive force, some people use those incidents to proclaim widespread lack of respect for all law enforcement officials. That not right or appropriate.
As a nation we need to take a deep breath and allow the facts to unfold. Ferguson, Missouri needs to take a deep breath to survive.
