snopes has a few articles on ferguson that i just wanted to collect for everybody:
- Claim: St. Louis prosecutor Robert McCulloch runs a charity called Backstoppers that sold “I support Ofc. Darren Wilson” shirts to raise money for the policeman’s defense fund -MIXTURE(somebody sold t-shirts and pledged half the proceeds to backstoppers, but backstoppers denies that they accepted any of it)
- Claim: Sam’s Club and Walmart donated $10,000 to the Darren Wilson defense fund – PROBABLY FALSE (the only evidence of this is a claim on somebody’s protest sign, plus the waltons are notorious cheapskates)
- Claim: A protester in Ferguson, Missouri, accidentally burned down his own house – FALSE (racist story made up by a news parody site)
- Claim: Image depicts Mike Brown pointing a gun while holding money in his mouth – FALSE (the photo is of oregon felon joda cain – did you know a police officer started this rumor??)
- Claim: The New York Times revealed Darren Wilson’s current residence address, then redacted it – FALSE (they published a photo of wilson’s marriage license with a law firm’s address on it; they later redacted the image)
- Claim: President Obama filed federal charges against Darren Wilson moments after a grand jury’s decision not to indict him was announced – FALSE (from another unfunny parody site)
- Claim: Image depicts injuries suffered by Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson following an altercation with shooting victim Mike Brown – FALSE (this is the false “orbital blowout” rumor; the guy in the photo isn’t even wilson [WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE])
- Claim: President Obama secretly met with Ferguson protesters and urged them to “stay on course” – MOSTLY FALSE (obama met with civil rights leaders, including al sharpton, to urge them to “stay on course” insofar as keeping things peaceful)
- Claim: George Zimmerman was arrested while visiting Ferguson, Missouri – FALSE (another parody)
- Claim: A UN official lambasted the “entitlement” of the parents of slain Ferguson, Missouri, teen Mike Brown after they addressed the United Nations Committee Against Torture – FALSE (seriously, can we do something about these fake news sites)
- Claim: Police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, have been spotted wearing wristbands that read “I am Darren Wilson” – TRUE (pigs stick together!)
- Claim: Killed Ferguson, Missouri, teen Michael Brown had a lengthy arrest record – PROBABLY FALSE (they can’t find anything on him, although state law prohibits the release of juvenile court records)