Residents sound off at last hearing on Ferguson settlement

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis-area residents were sounding off today in the last public hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice's settlement that calls for sweeping changes in Ferguson, where 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry, who will rule on whether the settlement can go forward, hosted the hearing that was requested by both the Justice Department and Ferguson leaders. It wasn't clear when she would issue a ruling.

More than 30 people were scheduled to speak and about two dozen others submitted written comments.

Felicia Pulliam, a black Ferguson resident, said city officials' continued denial of Ferguson's racial problem makes her wonder if they will take the agreement seriously. "They can't be trusted," Pulliam said. "They never, ever, tell the truth."

John Powell, a white Ferguson resident, told the judge that "stubborn and pervasive racism" exists in the St. Louis suburb.

But other speakers said the Justice Department investigation was biased in favor of protesters while overlooking reforms the city already made.

"I think the DOJ wanted to wipe Ferguson off the map," resident Jean Boettcher said. "This should be a warning to the rest of the United States."

Ferguson "is not a racist community," resident Billy Tucker said in written comments. "We are one of the most integrated, diverse communities in the Midwest."