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After a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri declined to indict a police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black man, Rev. Al Sharpton said New Yorkers would face the same attitudes in investigations in police-related deaths here.

We are dealing with the same attitudes of Ferguson right here in the city, Mr. Sharpton said.

A Missouri grand jury declined to bring any charges against police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager whom Mr. Wilsonshot to death. Mr. Sharpton watched a prosecutorsannouncement from his National Action Network House of Justice, alongside the family of Eric Garner a Staten Island man who died in July as police tried to arrest him for selling loose cigarettes.

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently urged New Yorkers not toconnect all the dots between Garners death, Browns death, and more recently, the death of Akai Gurley, who police say was accidentally shot and killed by a rookie cop in a housing project stairwell last week.

But Mr. Sharpton is amongseveral voices in New York making that connection.

This is one case, you have another case now with Gurley, Mr. Sharpton said tonight. Ferguson is not just in Missouri, which is why we watched it tonight in the House of Justice. We can lose a round, but the fight is not over.

Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson is investigating Gurleys death. But the inquiry into Garners death which came before Browns death in Ferguson is considerably further along. A special grand jury impaneled by Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan is considering the case and will be tasked with deciding whether to bring charges against the officers involved including Daniel Pantaelo, the officer shown on video wrapping his arm around Garners neck to bring him to the ground. Some, including Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, have saidthe move appeared to be a chokehold, which is not illegal but is prohibited by NYPD guidelines.

Garners family his wife and mother joined Mr. Sharpton did not make any remarks. But Mr. Sharpton said the lack of an indictment in Ferguson was a blow to them.

It as expected, but still an absolute blow to those of us that wanted to see a fair and open trial. I think that it is clear that even when you see a blow coming, that you expected, it still hurts, Mr. Sharpton said. Nonetheless, we said from the beginning that we had little or no confidence in this local prosecutor and called for federal intervention.

Mr. Sharpton criticized the remarks ofSt. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch and the grand jury investigation he oversaw. He also noted that Garners family had stood alongside Browns in September calling for the federal Department of Justice to take over both cases from local law enforcement.

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Al Sharpton: We Are Dealing With the Same Attitudes of Ferguson Right Here

The Rev. Al Sharpton says the grand jury decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson is an absolute blow and added that the fight is not over.

It was expected, but still an absolute blow to those of us that wanted to see a fair and open trial. I think that it is clear that even when you see a blow coming it still hurts nonetheless, Sharpton said late Monday evening from his Harlem offices, according to video posted by Mediaite.

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Sharpton said the family of Michael Brown now joins others who collectively share the pain of having a loved one taken by law enforcement.

(Also on POLITICO: Congressional Black Caucus denounces Ferguson grand jury)

The civil rights activist and MSNBC host denounced the explanation of the non-indictment by St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch. Sharpton called certain claims about the investigation flawed and very suspect.

Despite calls for calm, Ferguson became a scene of chaos Monday night after the grand jurys decision not to indict Wilson was announced.

The Associated Press reports that at least a dozen businesses were burned and authorities reported hearing hundreds of gunshots. Rioters looted businesses and two police vehicles were set ablaze.

Police told the AP that dozens of people were arrested.

Sharpton said he will travel to Ferguson on Tuesday where he will hold a news conference and then plans to return to New York for a rally to call for the federal government to escalate a criminal indictment.

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Sharpton: Ferguson decision 'an absolute blow'

The Rev. Al Sharpton says Rand Pauls efforts to engage black voters could present a strategic challenge for Democrats: If the Republican senator runs for president, fewer African Americans may be motivated to show up and vote against him.

The civil rights activist and TV host had breakfast with the Kentucky senator last week, and the pair discussed the need for criminal justice reform before disagreeing over how to deal with the immigration system.

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Democrats have traditionally done well among African American voters, especially with Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. In 2016, Democrats will need maximum black turnout in a lot of states, Sharpton told POLITICO.

What I think is more dangerous for Democrats is, if a guy like Paul is out there, if he becomes the nominee, for arguments sake, he does not generate a turnout against him among African Americans, Sharpton said. He added, If hes able to neutralize his past image on civil rights, if he becomes the candidate and if you dont get a huge black turnout saying Were afraid [of him], that could be a pitfall for Democrats.

Sharpton pointed to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs efforts to engage the black community as an example. Bloomberg didnt get a lot of black votes but because he reached out, a lot of blacks were not energized to come out and vote against him, Sharpton said.

Paul came under fire in his 2010 Senate race for equivocating over whether the Civil Rights Act should apply to private businesses (he later stressed he would have voted for the measure). But he has made engaging minority communities a priority in recent years. He has called for restoration of voting rights for some non-violent felons; visited Ferguson, Missouri, where a white police officer fatally shot a black teenager; worked with Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey on criminal justice reform and decried police militarization. Hes also called on the GOP to be more inclusive.

Sharpton stressed that he is not endorsing Paul, but suggested he was impressed with Pauls efforts.

Now that hes [working] with Booker, going to Ferguson, having breakfast with Al Sharpton he is beginning to demonstrate some very open, very consistent patterns of trying to broaden the framework of a potential candidacy, Sharpton said. I think he knows its unlikely someone like Al Sharpton would endorse him, but I cant ignore him. Hes openly dealing with issues that [politicians] including people in the Democratic Party, havent done.

Sharpton asked for the meeting, which was held in the Senate dining room, and said he was pleased that Paul was willing to get together in such a high-profile place. The reverend floated a possible invitation to his annual civil rights conference, and Paul did not rule out attending. The senators office confirmed that he is open to a possible appearance.

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Sharpton: Paul's outreach to blacks could hurt Dems in 2016

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rev. Al Sharpton will hold a press conference Monday night to respond to the grand jury decision in the police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

Sharpton's press conference will be held 9:15 p.m. at his National Action Network's headquarters in Harlem.

The grand jury decision in the Ferguson case -- where white Police Officer Darren Wilson is accused of shooting the black unarmed teen -- is expected to be announced Monday evening, according to Brown family lawyerBenjamin Crump.

The Brown shooting,which happened a few weeksafter Eric Garner died in police custody in Tompkinsville, has sparked months of unrest and protests in Missouri.

In the Garner case, a special grand jury convened by District Attorney Daniel Donovan continues to listen to evidence and testimony as it decides on the fate of Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo.

Duringa press conference last week, Sharpton, who has been an advocate for the families of the victims in both cases, said there's not as much tension on Staten Island as there is in Ferguson as the communities await the results.

But, he said, the tension in Ferguson could inflame the situation on Staten Island.

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Rev. Al Sharpton to respond to Ferguson grand jury verdict during press conference Monday night

Kevin Jackson reports on Ferguson calls out "Race pimp" Al Sharpton
Kevin Jackson reports on the situation in Ferguson, Missouri and the ridiculousness of "race pimp" Al Sharpton.

By: SGT Hartsock

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Kevin Jackson reports on Ferguson & calls out "Race pimp" Al Sharpton - Video