Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton tweeted that Michael Brown was “murdered,” ratcheting up political polarization and perpetuating a narrative long discredited by law enforcement findings.
Lieutenant Governor Stratton’s post claimed Michael Brown “graduated from high school 8 days before he was murdered,” honoring his memory in a way that dismisses key facts about the 2014 incident.
Federal investigations, including a DOJ probe, concluded that the evidence did not support civil rights charges against Officer Darren Wilson. The reports found no proof that Brown raised his hands in surrender or called out “Don’t shoot.” Instead, overwhelming forensic and eyewitness evidence indicated Brown assaulted the officer and attempted to seize his service weapon.
By rebranding the case as a “murder,” Stratton perpetuates a misleading narrative that ignores the factual findings of federal authorities. Her message echoes the “Hands up, don’t shoot” myth that has repeatedly been debunked over the past decade.
