Sitting Members Of Congress — And More — Commemorate Ferguson Police Shooting By Lying About It

Sitting members of Congress – and several others — marked the 8th anniversary of 18-year-old Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Missouri, by promoting the long-debunked claim that he was “murdered” and had been shot while holding his hands up in surrender.

Brown was fatally shot by former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson — who initially attempted to detain Brown because he matched the description of a suspect in a strong-arm robbery at a local convenience store — and according to the police report, Brown attempted to pull Wilson out of his marked vehicle and grappled for his service weapon. He was reportedly running toward Wilson, who had by then exited the vehicle, when he was shot.

One witness, who later admitted to fabricating the claim, alleged that Brown had been trying to get away from Wilson when he was killed — and claimed that he had his hands up in surrender at the time of the shooting.

According to multiple investigations, however — including one undertaken by then Attorney General Eric Holder — the shooting was ultimately deemed justified and Wilson was not charged.

“This morning, the Justice Department announced the conclusion of our investigation and released a comprehensive, 87-page report documenting our findings and conclusions that the facts do not support the filing of criminal charges against Officer Darren Wilson in this case,” Holder said in a statement marking the close of the investigation. “Michael Brown’s death, though a tragedy, did not involve prosecutable conduct on the part of Officer Wilson.”

Despite that, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) went ahead on Tuesday with the assertion that Brown had been “murdered” by police.

“Today marks eight years since Michael Brown was murdered by police in Ferguson, MO,” Jayapal tweeted. “We need to honor Michael’s life with action. Let’s keep fighting to dismantle white supremacy, so we can ensure racial justice for all.”

Today marks eight years since Michael Brown was murdered by police in Ferguson, MO.

We need to honor Michael’s life with action. Let’s keep fighting to dismantle white supremacy, so we can ensure racial justice for all.

— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) August 9, 2022

Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO), who was among the protesters on the ground in Ferguson in the days after the shooting, made the same claim.

“8 years ago today, Michael Brown Jr. was murdered, so we took to the streets for over 400 days. We were maced and tear-gassed, & beaten by police — all for saying that Mike’s life mattered,” Bush tweeted, leaving out several key details such as the number of police officers who were attacked and the number of businesses that were looted and/or burned by the protesters she claimed were simply “saying that Mike’s life mattered.”

“Our fight for justice will not stop. We do this for Mike Brown,” she added.

8 years ago today, Michael Brown Jr. was murdered, so we took to the streets for over 400 days.

We were maced, tear-gassed, & beaten by police—all for saying that Mike’s life mattered.

Our fight for justice will not stop. We do this for Mike Brown. ✊🏾

— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) August 10, 2022

Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump, who has made a name for himself through a series of high-profile cases involving police officers and minorities, took the claim a step further and repeated the debunked claim that Brown had his hands raised in surrender when he was killed.

“8 years ago, Michael Brown was killed, with his hands up in surrender, by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. Michael’s future was stolen from him mere DAYS after he attended his high school graduation ceremony. We’ll ALWAYS remember him! Rest In Power, Mike,” he tweeted.

8 years ago, Michael Brown was killed, with his hands up in surrender, by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. Michael’s future was stolen from him mere DAYS after he attended his high school graduation ceremony. We’ll ALWAYS remember him! Rest In Power, Mike.🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/8vhnGGgEe0

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 9, 2022

Several people pushed back on the claims, however, like St. Louis-based radio host Annie Frey. “Peddling the Hands Up lie drains all credibility from your cause. I follow you because I value seeing your side of this issue. But this is a LIE and you’re using it for your own personal benefit. It’s disgusting,” she said.

Peddling the Hands Up lie drains all credibility from your cause. I follow you because I value seeing your side of this issue. But this is a LIE and you’re using it for your own personal benefit. It’s disgusting. https://t.co/HaDIFaQh2Y

— Annie Frey (@anniefreyshow) August 10, 2022

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