Aftermath

The Mission businesses hit in a Friday night protest – the third following the Grand Jury’s decision in Ferguson against indicting a white police officer for shooting and killing an 18-year-old African American – spent Saturday cleaning up glass, repairing shattered windows and turning customers away in the early parts of the day.

At RadioShack on Mission Street near 23rd street, a young employee vacuumed up glass and debris scattered around the front of the store and re-directed the clientele to the company’s Portrero Hill location.

She said she wasn’t allowed to talk to the media about what had happened. Another employee said they would not be able to open the store until it was safe.

“There’s still glass everywhere,” she said. “We can’t have people walking around.”

Nearby at 23rd and Valencia, Brooke Mclaughlin, the hostess at Beretta, said that they were still cleaning shards of glass from a front window smashed by a lone man wearing a bandana around his face. He used a bike’s u-lock to shatter the window Friday around 10:30 p.m. while the restaurant was still open.

“People were crying. You can imagine,” Mclaughlin said of Friday night, adding that half of the restaurant immediately left following the incident while other patrons had to be relocated to the back.

Although guests were seated next to the window, no one was seriously injured. Mclaughlin, who was working in the back and ran out as soon as she heard the commotion, said that the impact caused glass from the window to travel about 15 feet into the restaurant.

Friday’s protest was the latest in the Bay Area in reaction to the Ferguson decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who killed 18-year-old Michael Brown. It took on a distinctly San Francisco flavor in connecting local shootings to displacement and inequality, according to Andrew Szeto, the acting director of the San Francisco Tenants’ Union.

“I was part of the protest because as someone who works in the Mission and does anti-displacement work…the violence against black people is directly related to the eviction problem,” he said, explaining that many of the city’s black residents have been forced out of their homes in recent years.

“The spirit of the protest last night was in that vein. People aren’t oblivious to what is happening in the city right now with gentrification and inequality and the tech industry,” he continued.

Along with chants of “Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace,” which have marked the Ferguson protests around the country, San Francisco activists could also be heard chanting the names of Alex Nieto and Andy Lopez, two local Latino men who police officers have recently shot and killed.

Nieto was killed on March 21, 2014 when officers said they mistook his Taser for a gun. And Lopez was killed on October 22, 2013 when Sonoma police officers thought his replica AK-47 pellet gun was a real rifle. No one has been dismissed in either case.

“The protest was in solidarity with Michael Brown but recognizing that there is a lot of injustice here in San Francisco,” Szeto said.

The protest started around 6 p.m. near Union Square. It eventually moved down Market Street and into the Mission, where activists continued to shout “Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace” until 9:30 p.m. or so when police began to make arrests near 21st and Valencia. During the roughly four hours of the protest, the SFPD reported that two officers were injured, one by a brick to the chest and another by broken glass that cut the officer’s face. Both the 16th and 24th Street BART stations were temporarily closed, and a flare was thrown into a KPIX Channel 5 news van while a crew was reporting on the scene.

John Nguyen was in the middle of closing down CeX, an electronics and video game store near the 24th Street BART plaza around 9 p.m., when he heard glass shatter in the front of the store as the protest passed by.

“I think they were taking advantage of the situation to loot. We do sell high end electronics,” he said.

The small group that smashed the window ran away when he and a few of his employees ran to the front of the store. Nothing was stolen. The same people then hit RadioShack and the Bank of America at 23rd and Mission, according to Nguyen, who estimated the cost of repairing the window will be close to $1,500.

CeX opened at 12:30 p.m. today, two and a half hours later than the store’s normal Saturday opening time, because the window had to be adequately covered before customers could be allowed to shop. RadioShack wasn’t able to open until 2:30 p.m., five and a half hours after its normal opening. No one who was working at RadioShack on Saturday could confirm reports of alleged looting to the media.

After the damage was done, Nguyen said a group of protesters came to apologize and said those who had done the damage were not part of their movement.

Szeto said that every store seemed to be targeted strategically.

“It wasn’t a smash every window,” he said “It was the corporate chain stores. It was the banks and RadioShack…People aren’t dumb. They aren’t going to smash the mom and pop barber shop because that’s their people.”

Mclaughlin felt like Beretta was targeted because of the restaurant’s upscale clientele. Szeto agreed.

“A lot of these small businesses play a real part in gentrification. They serve food or have these products that are catered to wealthy customers, and people in the neighborhood feel alienated by all this stuff,” he said.

Wilson Finally Resigns

“I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow,” Wilson says

Darren Wilson has resigned from the Ferguson police department, multiple news outlets report.

Also read: Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson Tells ABC News: 'I Know I Did My Job Right' (Video)

On Monday, a grand jury chose not to indict Wilson for shooting to death 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9th, 2014.

In an exclusive interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Wilson said he had a “clean conscience,” and he “did what he was trained to do.”

Also read: Ferguson Storm Brewing? When Media Began Twisting Death into Political Points

The St. Louis Dispatch posted a statement from the officer.

“I, Darren Wilson, hereby resign my commission as a police officer with the City of Ferguson effective immediately. I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. For obvious reasons, I wanted to wait until the grand jury made their decision before I officially made my decision to resign. It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community are of paramount importance to me. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal. I would like to thank all of my supporters and fellow officers throughout this process.”

CNN and Fox News have both reported the news; MSNBC is currently airing “Caught on Camera.”

Wilson's resignation is not a surprise to most police officials and media critics, who've deemed the officer too polarizing to put back on the streets of Ferguson in the aftermath of the national firestorm Brown's killing created.

Wilson, of course, was the officer who shot Brown a reported seven times for what he says was self-defense in response to Brown attempting to go for his gun, and kill him. Once Wilson shot Brown the first time, Brown ran away, Wilson claimed. The officer says Brown then turned around and charged back at him, leaving  him no choice but to shoot him several times, ultimately killing the teenager.

On TV, print, and online, most commentators and activists have found Wilson's version of events hard to believe, while many suggest he did nothing out of ordinary police procedure during the altercation with Brown.

Getty Images

Also read: Hollywood Fights Ferguson Decision: Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler, Kat Graham, Ava DuVernay Launch #BlackoutBlackFriday Boycott

After a grand jury chose not to indict Wilson Monday, riots ensued in Ferguson, Missouri, where the altercation occurred, and later spread throughout the nation.  Hollywood celebrities also participated in their own way, with “Fruitvale Station” Director Ryan Coogler organizing #BlackoutBlackFriday; a boycott against shopping on Black Friday in protest of Wilson's non-indictment.

In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” Michael Brown's parents told Charlie Rose and Gayle King they don't buy Wilson's story.

“I don't believe a word of it,” Leslie McSpadden said. “I know my son far too well to — he would never do anything like that. He would never provoke anyone to do anything to him and he wouldn't do anything to anybody. I don't believe a word of it.”

The shooting and killing of Michael Brown by officer Wilson has become a bigger media–and social justice–story than just the August 9th altercation between the two individuals.

It has broadened to a national debate–some might say boiling point–about the way African Americans are treated by white police officers across the country.

TheWrap will have updates if and when Michael Brown's parents respond to Wilson's resignation.

A Dark Narrow Path

Mukhtar Mai, a leading Pakistani women's rights advocate, gained fame for the way she courageously stood up to traditions that violated her human rights. Online, one can find plenty of information about her - her gang rape, her recent marriage, her strides for women's rights and education, and the harassment that she has faced from Pakistani government officials. While her past is now known around the globe, her future, in light of the Multan Electric Power Company's June 11 raid on the Mukhtar Women's Welfare Organization, remains uncertain. With the exception of coverage by Nicholas Kristof's blog ("A Hero's Ordeal in Pakistan"), Ms. Mai's current dire situation in Pakistan is not well-known. The latest harassment towards Ms. Mai, which within the context of previous incidents was obviously not an isolated event, must mobilize the public to demand action from the Pakistani government.

On June 11, 2009, the Multan Electric Power Company raided the MMWWO in Meerwala, Pakistan, and disconnected all electricity to the grounds, falsely accusing the organization of stealing electricity despite records proving they have paid all bills in full. MMWWO and hundreds of families in the surrounding area were without power for several days. Today, while the power to the surrounding area has been restored, the MMWWO grounds, which house the Mukhtar Mai Girls Model School, Women's Resource Centre, and Shelter Home for battered women (whose premises was raided despite the fact that men are strictly prohibited), are still enduring blistering temperatures. According to MMWWWO employees who were witnesses, the power company officials claimed that the raid was ordered by Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, the Federal Minister for Defense Production. This raid has significantly hindered the ability of Ms. Mai's organization to carry out its important human rights work, providing services for vulnerable women, girls and boys.

In 2002, Mukhtar Mai was gang-raped on orders of a traditional village council as punishment for acts allegedly committed by her younger brother. Instead of suffering in silence, Ms. Mai fought back and testified in a rape case against her attackers and is now a leading Pakistani women's rights activist. The case is now before the Supreme Court after a lower court granted the convicted men's appeal. Hearings for the supreme Court case have repeatedly been delayed, but her attackers remain imprisoned and her case is pending.

The June 11 incident is only the latest in a series of harassing incidents carried out by government officials to dissuade Ms. Mai from seeking accountability for past crimes and carrying out her work. Throughout the court proceedings, Ms. Mai has faced harassment by government officials, most notably by Minister Jatoi. In 2006, he visited Ms. Mai to ask her to reach a compromise with her attackers. In 2008, he again pressured Ms. Mai to drop the charges against her attackers, allegedly insisting that if she proceeded with the case, he would ensure a verdict in favor of her attackers. Most recently, in February 2009, Minister Jatoi's associates engaged in a media campaign against Ms. Mai, stating that her attackers are innocent and that the entire case is a "fraud" and a "western agenda."

Since 2002, Ms. Mai's record of promoting human rights has put her in danger. To date, no government action has been taken to ensure Ms. Mai's safety and ability to continue her advocacy. She and her colleagues bravely continue their work, in the darkness and sweltering heat, but the government of Pakistan must step up its commitment to her organization and to the Pakistani women for whom they demand rights. Today, Human Rights First joins other non-governmental organizations in demanding an end to the Pakistani Government's harassment of Mukhtar Mai. You can find out more and take action here.

Sad But True

The mother of Michael Brown cries in agony in a video filmed following the announcement that a grand jury would not indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of her son.

“Everybody wants me to be calm,” Leslie McSpadden shouts to a crowd of supporters in the video, which was uploaded to Facebook late Monday night. “Do you know how those bullets hit my son?” she says.

“We love you, Miss Leslie, we love you,” those surrounding McSpadden tell her.

Her rage turns to sorrow as she continues addressing the rally. “They still don’t care,” she says, before breaking down into sobs. “They’re never gonna care. I’ve been here my whole life.”

McSpadden screamed and sobbed when she was first told of the decision to not bring charges against Wilson, USA Today reported.

Prior to the announcement, McSpadden had addressed a crowd gathered near the spot where her son died and urged protestors to remain peaceful.

“I don't want nobody getting hurt, see what I'm saying?" she said. "Because when it's time to walk into the courtroom, I want all y'all with me."

In an official statement on the grand jury’s decision, McSpadden and Michael Brown’s father, Michael Brown, Sr., wrote, "We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions. While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.”

These Folks Gotta Get a Clue

MICHAEL BROWN'S MOTHER, STEP FATHER UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR VIOLENT CONFRONTATION OVER 'JUSTICE FOR MIKE BROWN' MERCHANDISE

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by MATTHEW BOYLE 26 Nov 2014, 12:33 PM PDT 35POST A COMMENT

The mother and stepfather of slain teenager Michael Brown are under investigation in Ferguson, Missouri, for an alleged late October violent incident with other Brown family members, a fight that erupted over “Justice For Mike Brown” merchandise.

“The probe of the October 18 attack remains an ‘active investigation,’ according to Stephanie Karr, city attorney in Ferguson, Missouri,” the Smoking Gun reported on Monday.

The police report about the Oct. 18 incident, taken by reporting officer Stephanie Wilson, details how at about 1:23 p.m. that day, Officer Wilson was called to the parking lot of Red’s BBQ on West Florissant “for a report of 20 subjects fighting.”

“Upon arriving, I contacted Gordon, Pearlie [Brown’s paternal grandmother, the mother of Michael Brown, Sr.],” Officer Wilson wrote. “Gordon stated she was selling ‘Justice For Mike Brown’ merchandise with Cosey, Matthew and Petty, Tony on the above parking lot when a large group of about 20-30 subjects ‘jumped out of vehicles and rushed them.’”

One of the people who allegedly “rushed” at them was Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden. Gordon, Brown’s paternal grandmother, made sure Brown’s mother, McSpadden, was aware she was Brown’s grandmother, and said, “unless McSpadden could produce documentation saying she had a patent on her son’s name, she (Gordon) was going to continue to sell her merchandise.”

McSpadden’s mother, Desureia Harris—Brown’s maternal grandmother—then allegedly said to Gordon, Brown’s paternal grandmother: “You don’t know my grandson like that. I’m gonna tear this shit down.”

“Harris then proceeded to rip down t-shirts and other items hanging on the line,” Officer Wilson wrote.He continued:

Gordon was then repeatedly struck in the back and left side of the head by an unknown subject(s). Gordon stated there were 20-30 unknown subjects tearing her booth apart, and she was knocked to the ground. Gordon heard McSpadden yell to an unknown subject ‘that’s Caluina’s mom, get her ass.’ McSpadden then ran up and punched Gordon. A subject believed to be Keyanna Ewings also assaulted Gordon by punching her. Cosey and Petty were assaulted by unknown subjects during the incident. Over $1500.00 in merchandise (shirts and afghans) and a suitcase containing at least $400 in cash was stolen by unknown subjects. The suspects then fled the scene prior to police arrival.

The incident put Petty, one of the people with Brown’s paternal grandmother, in the hospital. “Petty was transported to Christian Northeast by EMS for injuries sustained during the assault,” Officer Wilson wrote.

The next page of the three-page police report notes that Gordon “identified the following subjects as ‘attackers’ during the incident: Bernard Ewings, Keyanna Ewings, Louis Head (McSpadden’s boyfriend) Tonya Ewings, Lesley McSpadden, and Desureia Harris.”

Since this incident, which the police are still investigating, the grand jury in Ferguson decided against indicting Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Brown. That decision led to riots nationwide, centered in Ferguson—riots that started after Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, urged crowds on Monday night to “burn this bitch down.”

On Laura Ingraham’s radio program on Wednesday, Missouri’s Lt. Gov. Peter Kindercalled for Head to “be arrested and charged with inciting to riot” for that.

Grand Jury Options

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch is to make an announcement regarding the grand jury reviewing evidence in the Ferguson shooting death of Michael Brown, a person familiar with the matter said.
The grand jury, which is meeting today in Clayton, another St. Louis suburb, was to break for the day at noon local time, said the person, who declined to be identified because the deliberations are secret. It was unclear whether the 12 jurors, nine of which are needed to indict, had reached a decision.
The Washington Post reported that a decision has been reached, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.
McCullough will hold a press conference at either 4 p.m. or 7 p.m., the person said. Edward Magee, a spokesman for McCulloch, didn’t immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Barring discovery of additional relevant evidence, McCulloch won’t bring charges or resubmit the case to another grand jury if Wilson isn’t indicted, Magee has said.
Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, 28, killed Brown, 18, in a street encounter on Aug. 9, firing at least six shots and triggering days of sometimes violent protests, looting and a police response that was criticized as militaristic. Some eyewitnesses said Brown was shot while raising his hands in surrender. Police said he attacked Wilson while the officer was in his patrol car.
Protests have been staged in Ferguson almost every night over the past few weeks, and demonstrations are planned across the country when the grand jury’s decision is made public.

Secrecy

The Ferguson shooting jury could effectively deadlock by being unable to come to a consensus, said Clayton, Missouri criminal defense attorney Arthur Margulis.
Margulis, who isn’t involved in the case, said potential crimes the grand jury has likely been considering include second degree murder by knowingly causing a person’s death, or causing death while intending to cause serious injury; voluntary manslaughter arising from sudden passion; first-degree involuntary manslaughter for recklessly causing a death, or second-degree involuntary manslaughter for acting with criminal negligence to cause a death.
The grand jury began hearing evidence Aug. 20. Secrecy surrounds almost every aspect of the deliberations, in which they are to decide whether a white police officer should be charged with a crime for fatally shooting an unarmed black teenager.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has mobilized National Guard troops to support local law enforcement agencies if there is unrest after the decision.
McCulloch’s office hasn’t divulged when or where the grand jury of nine whites and three blacks meets in Clayton, the seat of St. Louis County, which doesn’t include the city of the same name.
The identities of the seven men and five women will be kept secret. When a decision is reached, the actual vote won’t be disclosed, only whether the jurors voted for an indictment or for what’s known as a no-true bill. State law prohibits disclosure of the vote.
Panel members are prohibited from disclosing anything they saw or heard in the proceeding, or expressing an opinion about it, said Paul Fox, director of judicial administration for St. Louis County.

Contempt

Violating that secrecy would put a juror in contempt of court with a penalty to be determined by a judge, Magee has said previously. He added that he’s unaware of any such prosecutions in his 19 years in the prosecutor’s office.
If there is an indictment, it will be reviewed by Circuit Judge Carolyn Whittington, who is overseeing the grand jury. The case would then go to Presiding Judge Maura McShane, who will schedule an arraignment. From there, it would be assigned randomly to a circuit judge in the court’s criminal division.
Evidence before the grand jury won’t be released unless approved by Whittington, Fox said yesterday. McCulloch has pledged to do so if no indictment is forthcoming.
“If the grand jury returns a no true bill, the judge anticipates the court will receive requests for grand jury records,” Fox said. “Some of those requests will require the court to analyze the need for maintaining secrecy of the records with the need for public disclosure.”

Grand Jury Reaches a Decision

A St. Louis County grand jury has completed deliberations in the case of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen in August touched off weeks of sometimes violent protests, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
CNN and The Washington Post reported that prosecutor Robert McCulloch will announce later Monday whether Wilson, 28, will face charges in the death of Michael Brown, 18, on a Ferguson street Aug. 9.
Police have said Brown struggled with Wilson inside his police car, then reached for Wilson's weapon. Brown's family and some witnesses say Wilson killed Brown as he raised his hands in surrender.
Some Ferguson, Mo., schools were closed, a police command center was in place and barriers have been set up to help control protests in downtown Ferguson, a predominantly black suburby, and near the courthouse in St. Louis.
Police officials and protest organizers have collaborated on rules of engagement. Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and activated the state's National Guard

A Smart Take on Trafficking

According to a United Nations report, sex trafficking has become a $99-billion-a-year industry -- a figure that has more than tripled in the last seven years.

Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart spoke about the trade at the UN yesterday and afterwards sat down with CBS News.

"They're kidnapped, they're stolen," Smart said of sex trafficking victims in an interview with CBS News. "Many times they are given drugs, many times they are manipulated through threats, just, I mean, like me. I was manipulated through threats, threats to my life and my family."

Play VIDEO

Kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls spotlights human trafficking

Twelve years ago, when she was 14 years old, smart was abducted, raped and held in captivity for nine months. She now crisscrosses the country, speaking and talking to victims about her experience.

She's turning her ordeal into a powerful weapon against an exploding criminal enterprise -- human trafficking.

"I often look back to the nightmare of my own kidnapping, to the very night that I was taken at knifepoint from my bed," Smart told the UN.

Training with Navy SEALs to help with rescues, Smart is merging her own foundation with Operation Underground Railroad.

That group sets up stings with local law enforcement to free children, like a recent mission in Colombia that rescued 29 kids under the age of 18.

Many trafficking victims are orphaned by war and natural disaster, or lured with the promise of modeling and film jobs.

"There are so many feelings of worthlessness, of being devalued, of wondering if life will even be worth continuing to live and if you do survive, will people accept you back," Smart said.

Now age 26, Smart says she's conquered that fear of acceptance. While she still has flashbacks when she talks to victims, she feels sharing her story is liberating.

Ferguson Plans

Activists, authorities and the family of Michael Brown called for calm as a grand jury drew closer to an announcement in the Ferguson police shooting. But it was unclear whether the panel was still at work or when it would render a decision.

Earlier Friday, a spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch told reporters that jurors were reviewing evidence as they weigh whether to indict officer Darren Wilson.

Five hours later, Ed Magee declined to say whether the panel was still meeting.

The time, date and place for a news conference announcing the decision has not been decided, Magee said.

Wilson, 28, reportedly told the grand jury that he feared for his life on Aug. 9 as Brown, who was 6-foot-4 and nearly 300 pounds, came at him. Witnesses said Brown was trying to surrender and had his hands up.

The shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old black man by a white police officer led to protests, some of which turned violent. Demonstrations have continued for more than three months, though the number of protesters has dwindled and violence has become uncommon.

There were signs of rising tension.

Protesters were arrested Thursday outside Ferguson police headquarters for the second night in a row after around 40 demonstrators blocked South Florissant Road. One of the three people arrested pushed an officer and was hit with pepper spray, according to St. Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman.

Calls for peace and restraint emanated from several quarters, including President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and civil-rights leaders and business owners.

The most emotional appeal came from Brown's father, Michael Brown Sr.

"Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer," Brown said in the video released by the group STL Forward. "No matter what the grand jury decides, I don't want my son's death to be in vain. I want it to lead to incredible change, positive change, change that makes the St. Louis region better for everyone."

Holder issued a general reminder to police to prepare for demonstrations and to "minimize needless confrontation."

His video message did not explicitly mention Ferguson, but it did reference demonstrations over the past few months that have "sought to bring attention to real and significant underlying issues involving police practices."

"I know from firsthand experience that demonstrations like these have the potential to spark a sustained and positive national dialogue, to provide momentum to a necessary conversation and to bring about critical reform," Holder said in the video.

"But history has also shown us that the most successful and enduring movements for change are those that adhere to nonaggression and nonviolence," he added.

Eddie Hassaun of the civil rights group Justice Disciples urged protesters not to be confrontational and for police to follow suit.

"We're looking for the action on the other side to be equally as committed to peace in the streets and peace for the demonstrators," Hassaun said.

City, county and state leaders on Friday announced a "rules of engagement" agreement between police and roughly 50 protest groups. The pact is aimed at preventing violence on both sides.

Obama also urged Ferguson to keep the protests peaceful, saying all Americans have the right to peacefully assemble to speak against actions they regard as unjust. But, he said, using any event as an excuse for violence is contrary to the rule of law.

The president commented in an interview with ABC News scheduled to air Sunday. The network released his comment about Ferguson on Friday night.

The civil rights organization Advancement Project said more than 70 protest actions are scheduled around the country, including occupying government space in Washington and a gathering at police headquarters in Chicago.

Concern about the aftermath of the announcement prompted one school district to call off classes for Monday and Tuesday. The Jennings district includes some students who live in Ferguson. It had previously planned to close for Thanksgiving starting Wednesday.

Antonio Henley, owner of Prime Time Beauty and Barber Shop in Ferguson, said concern about the pending announcement is hurting business.

"It's been rough, especially these past few weeks leading up to the decision," Henley said. "Our business has been cut in half because the people in the community are afraid to come around."

The FBI has sent nearly 100 additional agents to Ferguson to help law enforcement agencies, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the FBI plans.

New UK Laws

The British government's proposed anti-slavery laws need to be simpler, stronger and far more focused on victims if the UK is to tackle the "heinous crime" of slavery, the committee tasked with scrutinising the draft legislation has warned.

In an often blunt report, the parliamentary joint select committee on the modern slavery bill urges the government, law enforcement agencies and businesses to do more to fight slavery and protect its victims. "We applaud the stated aims of this bill – and the home secretary's wish to take the battle to the slave masters and traffickers – but we are concerned that this bill as currently drafted will not achieve what it must," said Baroness Butler-Sloss, one of the committee members.

"Unless and until the protection of victims, and the provision of support and services to them, are put on a statutory footing at the heart of this legislation, there is a risk that we will turn victims into criminals. Apart from the fact that this would be morally wrong, it is also self-defeating."

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The committee notes that modern slavery in the UK ranges from the exploitation of adults and children in the sex industry to forced labour, domestic servitude and such forced criminal activities as cannabis farming. It says victims include British schoolchildren, children brought to the UK for benefit fraud and those who are trafficked or come to the country legitimately and voluntarily only to find themselves subsequently enslaved.

The MPs and peers have come up with their own version of the bill, which suggests "sweeping changes" to the proposed definitions of offences. It recommends the creation of six offences: slavery of children and adults; child exploitation; exploitation; child trafficking; trafficking, and facilitating the commission of an offence of modern slavery.

They call for the establishment of a statutory system of children's advocates, a requirement for quoted companies to report on their own measures to eradicate slavery from their supply chains. They also insist that victims should not be prosecuted for crimes committed while they were enslaved.

Without major changes, they argue, the present bill will do little to address the difficulties in securing convictions against traffickers and slave masters.

In its report, the committee notes: "The draft bill was heavily criticised by our witnesses, with many describing it as merely a "cut and paste" of the existing offences, with little thought beyond consolidation. In particular, the draft bill does not give adequate consideration to slavery and trafficking offences committed against children, which many consider to be particularly egregious; nor, according to those who prosecute slave masters and gave evidence to us, will it make successful prosecutions more likely."

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Frank Field MP, who chaired the committee, said some areas of the proposed legislation needed to be rewritten. "We must conclude that for parts of this bill, amendments will not be sufficient to make good, workable, effective legislation," he said. "This is groundbreaking legislation that will influence law and the fight against modern slavery around the globe. The world is watching: we have to get this right."

Field said parliament's campaign to abolish the international slave trade in the 19th century remained one of its greatest achievements, adding: "We must not betray that legacy – or the victims of slavery."

Steve McQueen, the Oscar-winning director of 12 Years a Slave, who is also a patron of Anti-Slavery International, said the committee's work was part of a tradition that stretched back to William Wilberforce and the writer and former slave Olaudah Equiano.

"They have listened to the evidence and considered it with great care," he said. "Their recommendations are humane and principled. More than that they have grasped the complexity of contemporary trafficking and forced labour in the United Kingdom and have set forth clearly the fundamentals of what is necessary to tackle it effectively."

The archbishop of Canterbury also called on the Home Office to take the committee's recommendations "extremely seriously", and said he looked forward to contributing to its scrutiny in the House of Lords. "I hope that the government will bring forward a bill as quickly as possible to ensure there is sufficient time to get it through parliament," said Justin Welby. "This pioneering bill sets a high standard for governments around the world, who will be watching to see how our government handles the issue of modern slavery."

Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International, said the government had to ensure that victims of slavery were given the support they needed to act as witnesses in court. He added: "The government has so far not had a good record in protecting people vulnerable to slavery, as it continues to discriminate against trafficked victims who come from outside of the EU and by taking away the right to change the employer from the migrant domestic workers."

Claire Falconer, legal director of Focus on Labour Exploitation, said the committee's report and recommendations provided further support for a broader and more victim-focused bill. "We sincerely hope that the government heeds these calls when introducing its draft bill," she said.

Karen Bradley, minister for slavery and organised crime, described modern slavery as "an appalling evil" and said that she and the home secretary, Theresa May, were committed to its eradication. She added: "We are grateful to the pre-legislative scrutiny committee for their hard work and will consider their detailed recommendations carefully," she said. "The home secretary and I gave evidence to the committee and we both appreciate the shared commitment to legislate this parliament to tackle this appalling crime."