Congressional Black Caucus calls Ferguson decision 'slap in the face'

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus strongly spoke out against the Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.

The Caucus’ chair, Rep. Marcia Fudge, called Monday’s decision a “slap in the face to Americans nationwide” in a statement released on the group’s Facebook page. “This decision seems to underscore an unwritten rule that black lives hold no value; that you may kill black men in this country without consequences or repercussions.”

Tensions in Ferguson flared Monday night following the decision not to indict Wilson, who is white, in the August shooting death of Brown, a black teenager.

St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch, who announced the grand jury’s decision, said that the jury found “no probable cause exists” to indict Wilson.

Almost immediately, demonstrations began. In Ferguson, peaceful protests quickly turned violent while looters broke into stores, cars were flipped and buildings were set on fire.