Sarah Ford | October 28, 2014

Amnesty International: Ferguson police committed human rights abuses during Michael Brown protests

By Terrence McCoy

Just before midnight on Aug. 19, a longtime local cop named Ray Albers trained his听AR-15 semiautomatic rifle on a听protester in Ferguson, Mo., and told him he was about to die. 鈥淚 will听f鈥斺- kill you!鈥澨齮he听cop yelling at the protester, who said he had his hands raised. 鈥淕et back! Get back!鈥

When asked his name, Albers, who was suspended and resigned soon afterward, seethed, 鈥淕o f鈥 yourself!鈥

This altercation was one of many disturbing encounters听enumerated in an Amnesty International听听released Thursday night that paints a damning portrayal of the Ferguson police force, which it accuses of听committing numerous human rights abuses. The report was deeply skeptical of听whether Ferguson cop Darren听Wilson听was justified in the killing of unarmed Michael Brown, criticized Missouri law it said violates international standards and condemned the local police response for shooting tear gas and rubber bullets, intimidating protesters and restricting residents鈥 right to peaceful assembly.

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