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Ferguson riot: Inexcusable but not understandable

Your opinion that the violence in Ferguson is inexcusable but the anger of African-Americans is understandable is right on the first count but wrong on the second ("Ferguson's grievance," Nov. 25).

Darren Wilson and Michael Brown were the only two people personally involved in the incident that was the subject of the grand jury proceeding. Witnesses, investigators, technical experts and others, including all of the participants in the subsequent violence, were not.

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Nor was the city of Ferguson, its police department or the race, class and demographics of the town relevant to the racially-integrated grand jury's deliberations.

Only the conduct and statements of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Brown were essential to the grand jury's determination that Mr. Wilson had not committed a crime.

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What is as inexcusable as the Ferguson violence is your notion that Mr. Wilson's acquittal was understandably grounds for anger. Anger at what? Justice? Real or imagined social, economic or political inequities that have no bearing whatsoever on Mr. Wilson's guilt or innocence?

African-American's anger certainly would be understandable if only it were directed at the right people.

Barry C. Steel, Phoenix

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