The grand jury in Ferguson made the decision Nov. 24 to not indict Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown. In the hours leading up to the announcement, community members and members of Brown’s family waited outside the courthouse to hear how many of the five possible indictments Wilson would receive.

Wilson was not charged with any of the five indictments, and members of the Ferguson community, as well as communities all over the country, immediately began to protest, sometimes violently.

Photos and videos from Ferguson began popping up on every news station. It appeared from the videos that there were more buildings on fire than not, and tear gas bombs were flying through the air.

Ferguson was not the only city in the country that was upset by the grand jury decision, however, people in cities such as Oakland, Calif., New York City and outside the White House protested in the streets with signs that said “Black lives matter.” Some even stopped traffic on the interstate. Ferguson, out of the cities that protested, reacted the most violently.

All through the night and well into the next day, protesters were damaging buildings in Ferguson by lighting them on fire or throwing bricks through windows or attacking the police. More than 400 people were arrested across the nation for violent protest after the grand jury announcement, yet nothing was changed. Ferguson chose to fight the jury decision with violence and ruined any chance to be taken seriously.

Violent protest is never the answer.

There is no changing the grand jury’s decision to not indict Wilson, so by violently rioting in the streets of Ferguson, residents destroyed their own community for no reason. Whether the issue was a matter of race or a matter of a police officer protecting himself, Ferguson’s decision to protest by lighting buildings on fire, beating people and attacking the police brought attention to the city for the wrong reasons. If the community were trying to honor Brown and his family, they should have taken a more peaceful approach.

“My wife and I want peaceful protest,” said Brown’s stepfather. “If you are supporters of Michael Brown, you will have faith and know justice will prevail.” Brown made this announcement before the grand jury made their decision. Moments after the decision was made, Brown’s stepfather changed his demeanor and called for the protesters to “Burn the *itch down.” 

After Brown’s stepfather hollered out into the crowd, mob mentality among the townspeople arose and looting and fires broke out among the city. Had the stepfather not made the comment against his family’s wishes, perhaps the mob would have taken a more peaceful approach.

It can be difficult for family members when someone near to them dies. The pain that Michael Brown’s family is going through must be unbearable, but the reactions from the community to show support for the Brown family did more harm than good. Peaceful protest has the chance to get attention and have policies changed in the future, while the protests that occurred in Ferguson destroyed everything in its path.