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Michael Brown's Family to St. Louis Prosecutor: 'We Object Loudly'

At a press conference Tuesday, Michael Brown's family attorney, Benjamin Crump, and Rev. Al Sharpton criticized the St. Louis Prosecutor Bob McCulloch for how officer Darren Wilson's case was handled by the grand jury.

Michael Brown family Attorney Benjamin Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton criticized St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch at a press conference Tuesday. Crump said the family "objects loudly" to how McCulloch handled Darren Wilson's grand jury case and that "the process is broken."

"We could see what the outcome was going to be, and that is what occurred last night," Crump said. Michael Brown Sr. was present but did not speak.
The jury decided not to indict Wilson in killing Brown on Monday Nov. 24. McColloch made the announcement that night. Documents from the case and a transcript of the grand jury proceedings were released following the news. After reviewing what Crump called a "data dump," it was only more apparent that the process was unfair, he said.

Sharpton said that right after Brown died, there was a call for a special prosecutor to take over the case as the family had very little trust in local authorities. He blasted McColloch for how he portrayed Brown during the press conference that announced the decision.
"I've never seen a prosecutor hold a press conference to discredit the victim," Sharpton said, "where he went out of his way, point by point, to discredit Mike Brown Jr., who could not defend himself."
He continued that it "was strange that McColloch lectured the media," for publishing accounts from various witnesses of Brown's shooting death, but "he had no problem when he leaked the tape of Michael Brown in the convenience store" and "no problem leaking things for the officer."
Following the decision, area businesses were looted and Sharpton said individuals taking part in those activities should not be grouped with peaceful protesters. "If you are on Michael Brown's side, you walk with dignity. If you do anything to harm others, you're on your own side."

Going forward, Crump proposed the Michael Brown law, which would require every police officer in every city to wear a body camera for transparency in the event more incidents like this occurs. 
The family plans to continue to seek input from federal authorities for their investigation, which continues. Sharpton compared the case to Rodney King's beating, in which the officers were at first acquitted, but were eventually sentenced by the federal government for violating King's civil rights. 
"We may have lost one round, but the fight is not over."
Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege_.
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(Photo: EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI /LANDOV)

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