UPDATE – Nov. 25, 2014
It’s now been just under four months since the murder of Michael Brown.
It’s now been just under 24 hours since the grand jury decided not to charge police officer Darren Wilson over the shooting of Michael Brown.
Despite multiple eyewitness testimony, a coroner’s report which described multiple shots to the head of the unarmed victim and continuous support from the public for a conviction, Darren Wilson will not face a trial for the shooting. Riots, lootings and fires have ensued since the decision was made. In the United States, in order for criminal charges to go trial – nine of the twelve jurors who sit on a Grand Jury must vote to indict the accused.
The continued support for the Brown family is evident as cities across the USA hold vigils and stand-ins for Michael Brown.
This is dope! ✌️ #PrayForFerguson #PeaceInFerguson pic.twitter.com/KLMmpPgYMm
— Dizzy Dortch (@DizzyDortch) November 25, 2014
This original article was inspired by the power of social media – a power the Michael Brown/Ferguson movement has repeatedly shown. At 2:50pm today, eight of the ten hashtags trending in the United States are all Ferguson related. 
Public reaction to the decision, calls for peaceful protest, prayers for those in Ferguson, criticism towards Darren Wilson, chillingly accurate comparisons to Rodney King and the LA Riots, and now tweets of a Ferguson Protest taking place on New York’s Triborough Bridge are among the topics people have taken to Twitter. It’s unclear what will happen this week in Ferguson and how this could possibly change the political climate in the US, but it is clear that there is an outpouring of outrage from the public. Check back in the following days for more.
Picture speaks volumes #PeaceInFerguson pic.twitter.com/kng4NucnBV — Ken Robinson (@Datdudeken__) November 25, 2014
_______________________________________________________________________________
September 17 – Social media is often questioned as a reliable source for news. But the case of Michael Brown, an 18 year old unarmed black youth who was shot and killed by a white police officer, has raised the question of the reliability and truthfulness of mainstream news outlets. After all, social media posted the first images of his body and provided some of the most candid reports of the protests those images ignited.
On Aug. 9, Twitter user @TheePharaoh tweeted from his apartment live immediately after the shooting.
The coroner’s report revealed that Brown was shot at least six times, with the first shot to his head causing the fatal injury. Hours later the people of Ferguson, Missouri, took to the streets to protest. By the evening, hundreds gathered Ferguson’s streets and outside the Ferguson Police Department shouting “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!” Within hours #HandsUpDontShoot was trending on twitter in the US.
As the first news outlets tapped into the Ferguson Unrest, another hashtag trended nationwide:#WhichPictureWouldTheyUse. The hashtag created a clear picture of the influence of politics on news coverage. Left-wing and right-wing news outlets used the power of photography to sway their readers in one direction or the other.
The premise of the hashtag was that more conservative news outlets were using photos of Michael Brown at parties, some which depicted drug paraphernalia, while more liberal news outlets were using photos of him at his graduation or with his family.
The discussion on this hashtag grew on Twitter and Instagram. People would post at least two photos of themselves that showed how much a picture can change one’s perception.
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown #WhichPictureWouldTheyUse
One Twitter user wrote, “In a cap & gown next to a proud grandmother or out in the streets of New York with my black friends… *cough* excuse me… Gang members, with a “hood” chain on & “hood” clothing. Oh, but racism in the media doesn’t exist… Stay woke.”
Within 24 hours after the shooting, the Ferguson police began to look like US military soldiers executing missions in war-torn Afghanistan.
With the arrival of police, it was reported that spectators and media were asked to leave the protest area. Social media took the lead in reporting this news, and a new hashtag was started: #mediablackout. Citizens continued tweet, post to Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Citizen reports soon surfaced of police driving armored trucks. Social media also reported police wielding grenade launchers, M-16s and tear gas as well as other military grade hardware.
It’s been just over a month since Michael Brown was killed and we witnessed the vital role that social media played in the events that followed. The power of ordinary people has grown, as anyone with an Internet connection can share news and opinions. The Michael Brown killing and following protests proved that everyone has the power to fight for justice, armed only with 140 characters.
THE EYE 