St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said Monday night in an 8 pm local time press conference that Darren Wilson, the officer who shot unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in August, will not face trial.
The length of McCulloch’s opening statement — more than 20 minutes — and the time of the press conference drew criticism on Twitter. Some accused the prosecutor of grandstanding while saying no case against Wilson will go to trial.
McCulloch: I hate the media. But let me make sure to schedule this press conference during prime time... #Ferguson
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) November 25, 2014
McCulloch, on prime time, finds the press guilty.
— Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) November 25, 2014
Others took issue with McCulloch’s blaming of the 24/7 news cycle and social media for making the grand jury process more difficult for officials.
It's remarkable to me that in announcing no indictment the prosector was so insistent about indicting social media.
— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) November 25, 2014
McCulloch blaming media, social media (and implicitly First Amendment) for his challenges. Doesn't mention Ferguson PD grand jury leaks.
— Jonathan Blanks (@BlanksSlate) November 25, 2014
Condescending #Ferguson Prosecutor Robert McCulloch blames social media before announcing there will be no indictment. Nice.
— Brian Clark (@brianclark) November 25, 2014
.@JeffreyToobin says McCulloch's criticism of the media and social media was "inappropriate" and "embarrassing."
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) November 25, 2014
President Barack Obama issued a statement on the decision from the White House, calling for restraint by those upset by the grand jury’s decision and police. He declined to say if he would visit Ferguson.
Obama: To those in Ferguson, there are ways of channeling your concerns constructively. pic.twitter.com/DdSo0gAfrv
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 25, 2014
