Tell Ferguson police that you're paying attention

A city on edge (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Ferguson residents are anxious and on edge. The state of Missouri is preparing for a grand jury to announce whether Officer Darren Wilson will face criminal charges for killing unarmed teen Michael Brown this summer. I need your help reminding law enforcement to protect human rights. Tell Missouri Officials: Respect the human rights of all protestors. Dear Tracy, Tensions are rising in Ferguson. Any day now, the world will know whether Officer Darren Wilson will face criminal charges for killing Michael Brown, an unarmed teen, in August. Missouri officials have been preparing for this moment for months — they brought in more riot gear, called in the National Guard and declared a State of Emergency in anticipation of unrest. But in the lead up to this moment, are officials spending enough time training officers to de-escalate violence and ensuring compliance with human rights standards on policing? Tell Missouri officials: Law enforcement must respect human rights, no matter what the grand jury decides. Ferguson residents are anxious today — and I can understand why. When police responded to protests in Ferguson earlier this Fall, they curtailed freedom of expression. Amnesty International's report "On the Streets of America" documents instances where police intimidated peaceful protestors with tear gas and rubber bullets. It's because of this that I sent a team of Amnesty International observers to the city: to monitor the policing of protests and to let law enforcement know that the world is watching. Stand with us in making sure law enforcement does not repeat the mistakes of the recent past — tell Missouri officials to protect the rights of peaceful protestors. In solidarity, Steven W Hawkins Executive Director Amnesty International USA