Brown case highlights alarming pattern: Rights panel

Miami, Nov 27 (IANS/EFE) The grand jury decision not to indict the white police officer who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, spotlights "an alarming pattern of law enforcement use of excessive force against people of colour", the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida has said.

"America must be honest with itself and acknowledge the profound disconnect and disrespect that many communities of colour -- black, brown, native American and others -- experience daily with their local law enforcement," ACLU of Florida's executive director Howard Simon said in a statement.

The decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in Brown's Aug 9 death "is to be respected or condemned will depend on the analysis of the evidence that the grand jury reviewed", Simon said.

"The ACLU will continue to fight for racial justice," he said. "An important part of that fight is ending the prevailing policing paradigm where police departments are more like occupying forces, imposing their will to control communities."

"We need greater collaboration, transparency, and communication between police and communities around the shared goals of equality, fairness, and public safety," Simon said.

Anger over the grand jury's decision spurred protests in 170 cities across 37 states in the US, with thousands of people occupying roads and bridges to demand justice.

--IANS/EFE

ab/pr/