Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announces 'Ferguson Committee' to adress state's cultural problems

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- After what's now become months of racial and socioeconomic tension following the shooting death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown at the hands of a white police officer, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced the formation of the Ferguson Commission to address the state's systematic cultural shortcomings.

"If we want peace in our streets, we must work together to create a more just and equal society," Nixon declared Tuesday.

"Legitimate issues have been raised by thoughtful voices on all sides. Shouting past one another will not move us to where we need to go," said Mr. Nixon in his remarks, adding that the members of the commission, which haven't yet been named, need to have "difficult conversations that for far too long have been avoided or ignored."

Despite Nixon's efforts, the idea of the commission seemed like little more than overdue and empty political penance to some.

"Governor Jay Nixon has failed for the past two months to stand with communities calling attention to a badly broken criminal justice system," countered Ferguson October spokesman Mervyn Mercano in an official statement reported on by MSNBC.

"He has ensured the commission's irrelevancy by excluding a review of police practices or broader issues in the criminal justice system out of its scope."