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Ferguson Protests Met With Heavy Police Response, 2 Reporters And Alderman Arrested
Police violence broke out again in Ferguson, Missouri, Wednesday night, as the streets filled with tear gas, rubber bullets, heavily-armed SWAT teams and mine-resistant vehicles on the fourth night of unrest since Michael Brown, an unarmed African American teenager, was shot to death by police on Aug. 9.
Mostly peaceful protesters in the St. Louis suburb, symbolically holding their hands in the air, were met with tear gas and smoke bombs fired so regularly that several reporters on scene noted it was hard to breathe. "Shit, shit," shouted msnbc.com's Trymaine Lee, as his network attempted to reach him amid an onslaught late in the evening. Stun grenades were fired, and police wearing camouflage fatigues and riot gear formed lines in the streets.
A device deployed by police goes off in the street as police and protesters clash Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Authorities in the St. Louis suburb where an unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a police officer have used tear gas to try to disperse protesters after flaming projectiles were thrown from the crowd. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
A group of at least 70 heavily armed SWAT officers with armored vehicles responded to an apparently peaceful protest Wednesday afternoon and ordered the crowd to disperse, HuffPost’s Ryan J. Reilly reported. The sight of camouflaged officers training automatic weapons at unarmed civilians focused unprecedented attention on the increasing militarization of policing in America.
Reporters saw an unidentified man screaming for medical assistance in the back of a police truck. Police on the scene ignored his cries for help.
On Thursday afternoon, President Barack Obama addressed the situation in remarks from Martha's Vineyard, where he is on vacation. He also weighed in on the topic of heavy-handed police tactics. "There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism and looting," Obama said. "There's also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights."
He said he had asked the Department of Justice and the FBI to launch an investigation into Michael Brown's death.
Shortly before Obama's remarks, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced that he would be instituting changes in the way the Ferguson protests are policed, saying that that there would be new, "operational shifts" among officers.
At least two reporters were assaulted and detained by police, and a St. Louis alderman was arrested for what police said was unlawful assembly. Local elected official Antonio French, who has been covering the protests on social media, was arrested and charged late Wednesday, his wife told local radio station KMOV. He was still in jail as of Thursday morning. The national reporters were released relatively quickly without charge.
A protester kicks a smoke grenade that had been deployed by police back in the direction of police Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Protests in the St. Louis suburb rocked by racial unrest since a white police officer shot an unarmed black teenager to death turned violent Wednesday night, with people lobbing Molotov cocktails at police who responded with smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse the crowd. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Reilly and Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery were detained by police after they surrounded and invaded a McDonalds where the two were working and ordered them to leave. Police slammed Lowery into a drink machine and pushed Reilly’s head against the glass on the way out of the restaurant.
"They essentially acted as a military force. It was incredible," Reilly said.
Huffington Post reporter Ryan J. Reilly is arrested when police officers suddenly closed a Ferguson McDonald's restaurant on West Florissant Avenue on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. (Robert Cohen / St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Tear gas and rubber bullets were fired in the proximity of a crew from the TV network Al Jazeera America. In a statement, the network said that "Al Jazeera is stunned by this egregious assault on freedom of the press that was clearly intended to have a chilling effect on our ability to cover this important story."
Ferguson McDonald's manager Keith Eyers, who has worked for the company for 34 years, was shaken after the clashes that unfolded Wednesday evening in front of him and his staff.
"It's just a terrible thing what happened," he said later. "It's a bad thing. It's just not good...It's a rough time but I really think the city will get through it and make it stronger."
Support for the arrested reporters came from quarters as diverse as the Department of Justice and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). "Just want to praise @WesleyLowery and [Ryan Reilly] for their dedication in bringing us the stories from Ferguson. God bless free press!!" tweeted Amanda Carpenter, a top aide to the senator.
A total of 16 people were arrested Wednesday night, according to KSDK.com.
Ferguson police chief Tom Jackson defended his officers' actions Wednesday. "There are complaints about the response from some people, but to me, nobody got hurt seriously, and I'm happy about that," he said, according to ABC News.
Some protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police towards the end of Wednesday night, the Associated Press reported. Other reporters noted that protesters have largely been peaceful.
A small group of protesters gathered at the police station until the early morning, awaiting the release of friends. Five of them were arrested for not dispersing fast enough.
Nixon, after keeping silent throughout the evening, tweeted that he was "closely monitoring" the situation, and would visit St. Louis on Thursday. He also tweeted that the conflict in Ferguson "does not represent who we are. Must keep the peace, while safeguarding rights of citizens and the press." He released a statement, calling the situation "deeply troubling."
Michael Brown was shot on Saturday after he and a friend were walking in the street and encountered a police officer. Brown's friend who was with him that night, Dorian Johnson, said that the officer attacked Brown, then shot at the 18-year-old as he was trying to get away. Ferguson Police claim that Brown attacked the officer, and said Wednesday that the officer involved in the altercation was injured. Multiple witnesses have said that they saw Brown with his hands up in the air when he was shot.
Katie Nelson contributed reporting.
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USA Today's Yamiche Alcindor provides an intimate look at how Michael Brown's parents have been dealing with the loss of their son:
Phones constantly ring with reporters asking for interviews or family members offering support. Last week, as demands reached a tipping point, both parents moved into hotels to shield themselves.
In the days leading up to the funeral, Brown's mother continued to cry and spoke in whispers as she tried to explain her feelings.
"They say tomorrow is going to be the hardest day, but I think today was — just seeing my baby laying there, cold," Lesley McSpadden, 34, told USA TODAY. "It did something to my heart. It's too much. It's too much."
New audio has surfaced that allegedly captures the moment when Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot dead by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, on Aug. 9.
CNN aired the unverified recording on Monday night. Six shots can be heard, followed by a pause, then several more. A private autopsy performed on Aug. 17 at the request of Brown's family found that the 18-year-old was shot 6 times, including twice in the head.
Al Sharpton: America, it's time to deal with policing. We are not the haters we are the healers. #MikeBrown #MikeBrownFuneral
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) August 25, 2014
Rev. Al Sharpton: All of us are required to respond to this #MikeBrownfuneral
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) August 25, 2014
Benjamin Crump: We will not accept 3/5 justice, we demand equal justice for #MikeBrown #MikeBrownFuneral
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) August 25, 2014
USA Today reporter, Yamiche Alcindor shares photo of program which includes tributes to Michael Brown from his mother and father
The program includes tributes from both the mother and father of #MichaelBrown pic.twitter.com/CbAPy8xKEq
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 25, 2014
Stepmother of #MichaelBrown said the late teen "pretty much prophesied his own death and didn't realize it."
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 25, 2014
#MikeBrown's best friend speaking. Says not long before his death, he admitted that he had been dreaming about death. #MikeBrownfuneral
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) August 25, 2014
The program for the funeral of #MichaelBrown pic.twitter.com/PKzGgC20Yl
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 25, 2014
Funeral program includes photos of #MichaelBrown from several stages of life pic.twitter.com/fjhaqu26Xm
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 25, 2014
Folks still trying to get inside at #MichaelBrown funeral. pic.twitter.com/cwKo3ILkuI
— Doug Moore (@dougwmoore) August 25, 2014
Michael Brown funeral: sanctuary beginning to fill up. Tom Joyner, Spike Lee, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rev. Jesse Jackson in house.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 25, 2014
Waiting for #mikebrown family pic.twitter.com/XNCQMw12bG
— Molly Hennessy-Fiske (@mollyhf) August 25, 2014
Captain Ron johnson just arrived #mikebrown funeral--guess nyt was wrong... pic.twitter.com/pCVhNas8xu
— Molly Hennessy-Fiske (@mollyhf) August 25, 2014
Funeral supposed to start in 10 mins. Hundreds in overflow room put their hands up. pic.twitter.com/ueSfBiv6Iv
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 25, 2014
This morning I will attend Mike Brown's memorial service as a mother, not as an elected official.
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) August 25, 2014
Many here at Michael Brown's funeral are wearing T-shirts and buttons memorializing their deceased loved ones.
— Victor Blackwell CNN (@VictorCNN) August 25, 2014
MSNBC reports:
Casket in place for#MikeBrown's funeral today. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/qEMD4yQ4WL
— Amanda M. Sakuma (@iamsakuma) August 25, 2014
Security lines sidewalk where family will enter at #MikeBrown funeral pic.twitter.com/SKnQOFPSKM
— Emily Kassie (@emilykassie) August 25, 2014
Michael Brown's father asks for peace while 'we lay our son to rest' http://t.co/yFq6cl3HGt via @dailykos
— Jonas Grumby (@Scytherius) August 25, 2014
MSNBC reports:
Gov. Nixon will not be attending Michael Brown’s funeral “out of respect for the family.” #Ferguson
— Amanda M. Sakuma (@iamsakuma) August 25, 2014
Some guests entering the funeral with 'hands up' #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/FOPMIVCwGC
— Laurie Skrivan (@LaurieSkrivan) August 25, 2014
CNN reports:
Link http://t.co/m42jTfBTe7 RT @EliottCNN Sanctuary filling fast for #MikeBrown's funeral in #StLouis. pic.twitter.com/gsfS6XDma5
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 25, 2014
Missouri congressman Lacy Clay (D) said on Thursday that he had "serious concerns" about the prosecutor in charge of Michael Brown's case.
"I also have serious concerns about the local prosecutors, about their ability to fairly prosecute this case in the interests of justice. To deliver justice to this community, or to Michael Brown's family. And I say that because we have a track record," Clay told CNN.
Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch has come under heavy scrutiny in the days following Brown's death. Critics say that McCulloch's ties to law enforcement will cloud his judgement and have called on Governor Jay Nixon (D) to appoint a special prosecutor instead. A petition against him has received over 70,000 signatures.
McCulloch's father was a police officer killed in the line of duty.
For his part, McCulloch has promised that his investigation will be fair and thorough. In a statement, he said:
I have no intention of walking away from the responsibilities and duties entrusted to me by the people of this community. Additionally, there is no basis in the law to do so. I have faithfully and fairly carried out those responsibilities and duties for more than two decades and will continue to do so for at least the next four years.
Nixon has also repeatedly insisted that he won't take McCulloch off the case.
Alana Horowitz
Large, peaceful group down on Canfield right now at the site of #MikeBrown's death in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/AJoBv4Jl7G
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 21, 2014
Deval Patrick, the only black governor in the US currently: 'I'm sick of unarmed black men being shot by police' http://t.co/1SbjhcXQMY
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 21, 2014
Arrest info from last night #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/e7JADkXkgm
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 21, 2014
From HuffPost's Dave Jamieson:
Like the rest of the St. Louis community, including their own teachers, Gateway students had emotional discussions about being black in America, about mistrust of the police, about peaceful demonstration and violent protest. They were asked to write down what they were feeling about Ferguson, with the assurance that no sentiments were out of bounds.
Click here to read excerpts from the responses penned by a group of 7th and 8th graders at the school.
Washington Post reports that Darren Wilson was injured following a scuffle with Michael Brown before he shot and killed him.
A family friend told WaPo that Wilson's eye bone was fractured. Fox News reported similar information earlier this week, citing a police source.
Another source told CNN that these reports are false.
Last week, Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson told reporters that Wilson was taken to the hospital following the incident, but did not say for what.
Rumor floating that Dorian Johnson has recanted/changed his version of story.
His attorney tells me: "it's not true. Pure propaganda!"
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 20, 2014
HuffPost's Arthur Delaney reports:
When Attorney General Eric Holder went to Ferguson, Missouri, on Wednesday, he assured local residents the U.S. Justice Department will swiftly investigate the police killing of an unarmed black teenager on Aug. 9.
In meetings with locals, Holder emphasized how his own past experiences will inform his work overseeing the Justice Department's investigation of Michael Brown's killing. He told students at a community college there that police searched his car when he'd been stopped for speeding on the New Jersey Turnpike.
"I remember how humiliating that was and how angry I was and the impact it had on me," Holder said. "The same kid who got stopped on the New Jersey freeway is now the attorney general of the United States."
But Holder's critics point out that this is the same man who was woefully soft on bad cops when he served as Washington, D.C.'s top prosecutor in the mid-1990s.
"Relying on Holder to take action is like sending a guy with a cup of water to put out a wildfire," said Gregory Lattimer, an attorney who has represented family members of people killed by D.C. police, including DeOnte Rawlings, a 14-year-old boy shot in the back of the head by an off-duty officer in 1997.
"[Holder] was part of the problem in D.C., not the solution," Lattimer said. "He says all the right things and then he goes out and defends the status quo."
Read more here.