Justice Dept. Sues Ferguson, Missouri, to Force Police Reforms

"Democracy Now!" airs weekdays at 9 a.m. PT on KCET.

The Department of Justice said Wednesday that it would sue the city of Ferguson, Missouri, to force the city to adopt police reforms negotiated with the federal government. This comes a day after the Ferguson City Council voted to change a proposed consent decree to reform the police and courts. The agreement was negotiated between city officials and the Department of Justice. Ferguson city officials said it would cost too much to implement. A Justice Department probe following the August 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown found police and courts in Ferguson routinely engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination against African Americans. "Democracy Now!" speaks to Jeffrey Mittman, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri.