Federal Government Sues Ferguson, Missouri
The federal government is suing Ferguson, Missouri, a day after the city council voted to revise an agreement aimed at improving the way police and courts treat minorities and low-income people in the St. Louis suburb.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the city's decision to reject the deal left the Justice Department little choice outside of filing a civil rights lawsuit.
"The residents of Ferguson have waited nearly a year for the city to adopt an agreement that would protect their rights and keep them safe. ... They have waited decades for justice. They should not be forced to wait any longer," Lynch told reporters at a press conference in Washington.
After an extensive investigation, the Justice Department has been pushing for improvements in the city's police procedures and court system.
City officials sought to amend the agreement, calling it unaffordable.
The Justice Department's investigation came after Darren Wilson, a white police officer, fatally shot Michael Brown, 18, a year and a half ago. Wilson resigned in November 2014, after a grand jury and the Justice Department decided against prosecuting him.
