CBS News
10 years after Michael Brown’s death, Ferguson sees progress but problems persist
Michael Brown once told his father the “world is going to know my name” – words Michael Brown Sr. still takes to heart.
Friday marks 10 years since the 18-year-old was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, turning the St. Louis suburb into the focal point of the national reckoning with the historically tense relationship between U.S. law enforcement and Black people.
The elder Brown now devotes his time to the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen for Change Organization, a foundation that helps fathers, mothers and children come to grips with tragedy in their lives. It’s a legacy he feels obligated to pass on under the name he shares with his son.
“He was going to shake the world,” Brown said of his son. “So, I guess that’s what we’re doing. He’s still doing the work from the grave.”
Brown’s death catalyzed massive change in Ferguson. In 2014, every city leader was white in the majority-Black city. Today, the mayor, police chief, city attorney and other leaders are Black. The mostly-white police force of a decade ago now has more officers that are Black than white.
The municipal court system that once brought in millions of dollars in fines and fees, often for relatively minor traffic offenses – paid mostly by poor residents – now collects only a fraction of that.
But problems persist. The current and former mayors acknowledge that race still divides the community of 18,000 residents. Some are concerned that police, wary of criticism, aren’t enforcing traffic laws, since serious and sometimes fatal wrecks are common.
What happened on Aug. 9, 2014
Michael Brown and a friend were walking along Canfield Drive when Officer Darren Wilson drove up and told them to get on the sidewalk. A fight ensued and fearing for his life, the teenager ran.
Though Brown was unarmed, Wilson described Brown as menacing at 6-foot-4 and claimed he came at the officer. But some nearby residents said Brown had his hands up in surrender when Wilson shot him.
Activist Zaki Baruti recalled the horror and fear that other Black residents felt after Brown’s death.
“There was a sense of shock, not knowing what to do,” Baruti said.
James Knowles III, who was mayor in 2014, believes that the widespread anger about Brown’s death was driven by several factors. Social media allowed information – and sometimes misinformation – to spread quickly, he said. Neighbors were incensed when Brown’s body was left in the street for over four hours on that hot August afternoon.
The night after Brown’s death, thousands of protesters marched along West Florissant Avenue, near Canfield. A QuikTrip convenience store was torched, and goods were stolen from many businesses. Months of fierce protest, at which demonstrators were tear-gassed, soon thrust the city into the national spotlight.
When St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch announced in November 2014 that Wilson would not be charged, protests erupted again.
What changed in Ferguson
In 2015, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice also found no grounds to prosecute Wilson. But the report gave a scathing indictment of the police department – raising significant concerns about how officers treated Black residents, and about a court system that created a cycle of debt for many residents. A year later, the city agreed to a federal consent decree requiring sweeping changes. The decree is still ongoing.
Missouri lawmakers stepped in, too. In 2016, legislators passed a law limiting the amount of revenue that municipal courts could collect from fines.
In 2013, Ferguson collected $2 million in court fines and fees, according to data from ArchCity Defenders, a St. Louis-based civil rights law firm. In 2023, the city collected about $97,000 – a decline of more than 95%.
Last month at a hearing on the consent decree between the Department of Justice and Ferguson that stemmed from Brown’s death, U.S. Senior District Judge Catherine Perry spoke to the parties in her courtroom on what has since changed in the last decade, CBS affiliate KMOV-TV reported.
“And I guess I would echo what others have said here today, that the changes that are happening in Ferguson, in the court system and in the police system and in the engagement with the community, these are things that are necessary for fully providing the constitutional rights that the Constitution guarantees to all citizens,” Perry said.
“A new look” for policing
Troy Doyle was a veteran St. Louis County police officer who worked in Ferguson during the 2014 protests. Nearly a decade later in April 2023, Doyle, who is Black, was hired as Ferguson’s chief – the latest of several hires since Tom Jackson resigned in 2015, following the Justice Department report.
Back in 2014, Ferguson had roughly 50 white officers, but just three Black officers. Today, 22 of Ferguson’s 41 officers are Black. Only four officers who were on staff in 2014 remain. Officers today are trained on implicit bias, de-escalation and community relationship building.
Doyle said he has worked hard to change the mindset of officers who might be resistant to the court-imposed requirements. He even replaced uniforms and changed the look of patches, badges and police cars, worried that the old look was “triggering” for many residents.
“For some people who live in the community, every time they saw a Ferguson police officer, it brought back memories,” Doyle said. “I wanted to give us a new look, but part of that new look was to let people know it was a new police department.”
Michael Brown Sr. said he’s noticed the change.
“It’s a weight that’s been lifted up off the Black community in terms of stop-and-frisk and assessing tickets,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of things that still need to get done. Those things are not promised overnight. It’s a process.”
More jobs and a helping hand
Some companies and organizations stepped in to create jobs and opportunities after the unrest in Ferguson, which brought more awareness of economic challenges in the community.
Centene Corp. opened a managed care service center in Ferguson in 2016, creating about 250 jobs. But after the COVID-19 pandemic and a move to virtual work, the center closed. In April, Centene donated the $25 million building to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis for early childhood programs, workforce assistance and other services.
Bob Clark, founder of the St. Louis-based construction company Clayco, in 2015 created the Construction Career Development Initiative. Since then, 175 people have been placed in jobs in the construction industry. Among them is Malik Johnson. He was a high school student who was homeless at the time of Brown’s death.
“My reality was divorce. My reality was mom with breast cancer, homeless, going hungry,” Johnson, 28, recalled. “Not knowing what tomorrow looks like.” Now, he’s married, employed as a pipefitter and planning a family.
But challenges remain
After serving three terms as mayor, Knowles left office in 2020 due to term limits.
Knowles frequently meets for breakfast with Ella Jones, who was elected as Ferguson’s first Black mayor in 2020 and reelected last year. They both acknowledge that race relations remain a struggle.
“The city is turning back,” Jones told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “It really is. Everything here is along racial lines.” The City Council has four white members and three Black members, and little gets done, she lamented.
Knowles sees that, too. He also worries about public safety as many drivers – aware police are less likely to pull them over – flaunt traffic laws.
He also believes too much money is being spent on the consent decree – money he believes would be better spent on fixing streets, hiring more officers and restoring crumbling parks.
The place where Black Lives Matter took off
Karla Scott, communications professor and former African American Studies program director at St. Louis University, said Ferguson will survive because its residents are resilient and proud of their community, even after all it has gone through.
“But I think it will always be the sort of epicenter for many of us who can remember where we were when we heard the news, or for people who went out there to stand in solidarity, to march in solidarity, to make their voices heard,” Scott said. “It will always be that place where the Black Lives Matter movement really took off.”
CBS News
How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
The New England Patriots will face off against the Miami Dolphins in a game today at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Patriots have had an uneven season so far, coming into the game with a record of 3-8, including a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on November 17. The Dolphins, however, haven’t fared much better this season as they enter the game with a record of 4-6, although they are coming off two wins in a row, the latest against the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today, even without cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today
The New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The football game will be shown on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ and the platforms noted below.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you’ll have other viewing options, too for the Patriots-Dolphins game. Just understand that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider:
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to choose from. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
Get started with Paramount+ here today.
Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game for free
Looking for an inexpensive way to watch football? Fubo could be the best way to do so. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
Get started with Fubo online now.
CBS News
How to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants NFL game today: Livestream options, more
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is set to host a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants today. Both teams have lost more games than they’ve won so far this season. The Buccaneers enter the game looking to end a four-game losing streak. Overall, they’re just 4-6 while the Giants are 2-8, having lost five consecutive games.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants game today, even without cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants game today
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The NFL game will be televised on CBS. It can also be streamed on Paramount+ and the platforms noted below.
How and when to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you’ll have other viewing options, too for the big game. Just note that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider:
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to choose from. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
Get started with Paramount+ here today.
Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Then you can simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Buccaneers-Giants game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Buccaneers-Giants game for free
Looking for an inexpensive way to watch football? Fubo could be the best way to do so. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
Get started with Fubo online now.
CBS News
How to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers NFL game today: Livestream options, more
It will be the Kansas City Chiefs up against the Carolina Panthers in an NFL game today set for the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Attention will be focused on the Chiefs, who are coming off their first loss this season, a 30-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills on November 17. That loss snapped a nine-game winning streak. The Panthers, meanwhile, are just 3-7 so far in the season but are coming off of wins against the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants, respectively.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers game today, even without cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers game today
The Kansas City Chiefs-Carolina Panthers game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The NFL game will be televised on CBS. It can also be watched via streaming on Paramount+ and the platforms noted below.
How and when to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you’ll have other viewing options to explore as well (just note that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider).
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to explore. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
Get started with Paramount+ here today.
Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Then you can simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Buccaneers-Giants game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Chiefs-Panthers game for free
Looking for an inexpensive way to watch football? Fubo could be your best bet. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
Get started with Fubo online now.