“Hands up, don’t shoot!” This is one of the most notorious chants that the protestors use in Ferguson, Missouri. Many people choose to live in a small town in order to feel safe and to stay away from all of the crime that living in the big city can bring. However, residents in Ferguson, Missouri, are witnessing firsthand the everyday crime that big cities tend to face. On August 25, 2014, Michael Brown was fatally shot by police officer Darren Wilson of the Ferguson Police Department. The controversy surrounding the case was largely due to Brown being a black teen, while Wilson was a white officer. The people of Ferguson just want answers and to openly express their displeasure through protesting. According to CNN, since the tragedy, “protests have taken place every day and night after the incident, some escalating into violence between demonstrators and law enforcement.” Many times while protesting, there are several arrests made by the police claiming that the protesters are out of hand and becoming aggressive towards the officers. To quell the protestors, the police have used rubber bullets, tear gas, and extreme force to try and calm the seemingly growing crowds.

                Since the middle of August, new facts and videos seem to come out each day. The first scrutiny of the case came upon closer inspection of the Ferguson Police Department. According to USA Today, of the fifty-three officer department only three of the officers are black. With the city of Ferguson being a primarily black city, many people felt as if the police force should reflect more closely the inhabitants of the city. According to CNN, citizens of the small town are “angry that one of three makeshift memorials at the site where Brown was shot burned.” However, not to be deterred, the Ferguson citizens have already started to rebuild the memorial to ensure that the memory of Mike Brown continues. The people of Ferguson are determined not to be silenced.  In September, Darren Wilson spent four hours in front of a jury who is planning to decide whether or not he will be indicted for the shooting. The decision to be indicted will be returned by the grand jury in the early months of 2015.

Just like Ferguson, Clinton, South Carolina is a small town. If a similar situation were to happen in Clinton, it would definitely cause an uproar. Even though over fifty percent of the citizens of Clinton are white, there is still a black population of thirty seven percent. The town’s population would more than likely be reduced significantly and the students of the college town would almost assuredly protest and let their voices be heard. One of the primary complaints of the citizens of Ferguson is the blatant lack of justice throughout this case. The people of Ferguson feel as if their voices are not being heard. Nowadays, the citizens of Ferguson are starting to return to their way of life before the death of Michael Brown, all the while trying to get justice for his death. The upcoming months in Ferguson should leave lasting marks on our nation’s history.