FERGUSON, Mo. -- The Missouri Highway Patrol announced Sunday afternoon that a curfew would be in place again from midnight until 5 a.m. Monday, as protests continue over the police killing of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in this St. Louis suburb.
The first curfew was announced Saturday by Gov. Jay Nixon (D), who said it was an attempt to curb looting that has accompanied the demonstrations. That curfew ran from midnight until 5 a.m. Sunday, but a few protesters defied it. One person was shot and seven were arrested during demonstrations in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Officers used tear gas on crowds who were out past the first curfew, despite a Saturday statement from Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson that the tactic would not be used to enforce the midnight deadline to leave the streets. Johnson said Sunday that police had to use the tear gas to try to reach the wounded individual, but other protesters had already taken him to the hospital.
Hundreds of people showed up at the Greater Grace Church just outside of Ferguson Sunday afternoon for a rally in Brown's memory. Speakers included Johnson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, III. So many people attended the event that it was virtually impossible to find parking, and an overflow crowd gathered outside.
President Barack Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder received loud cheers at the rally when their names were mentioned in connection with efforts to step in and ensure an independent investigation into Brown's death. The Justice Department has said it will conduct its own autopsy of Brown's body in order to assure objectivity.
Many residents of Ferguson are calling for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch to step aside from leading the investigation into Brown's death in light of questions about his impartiality based on his past record of prosecutions and his recent comments in support of the St. Louis County Police Department, which used heavy-handed tactics in confronting protesters.
Crowds also continued to gather on Sunday afternoon at the QT, the gas station and convenience store that was set on fire last week during demonstrations following Brown's death and has become a gathering place for community members to protest. Cars drove by and honked in support:
A group of Tibetan monks even showed up to stand with the protesters:
CORRECTION: Nixon was originally misidentified as a Republican. The governor is a Democrat.