Hedy Epstein, 90-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor, Arrested During Michael Brown Protest

90-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Arrested During Ferguson Protest

Hedy Epstein, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, was arrested on Monday during unrest over the death of Michael Brown, KMOV reports.

Epstein, who aided Allied forces in the Nuremberg trials, was placed under arrest in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, "for failing to disperse" during a protest of Gov. Jay Nixon's decision to call the National Guard into Ferguson. Eight others were also arrested.

"I've been doing this since I was a teenager. I didn't think I would have to do it when I was 90," Epstein told The Nation during her arrest. "We need to stand up today so that people won't have to do this when they're 90."

Epstein is currently an activist and a vocal supporter of the Free Gaza Movement.

Tensions rose in Ferguson on Monday night after Nixon announced that the National Guard had been called in to help run the command center while police handled the protests.

Several people were arrested as protests ramped up, including Scott Olson, a photographer working for Getty Images.

President Obama addressed reporters on Monday and condemned the arrest of journalists covering Ferguson in the days since Michael Brown was shot and killed. He said he would be monitoring the National Guard presence to make sure it is "used in a limited and appropriate way."

"There is no excuse for excessive force by police," Obama said.

Here's a photo of Epstein's arrest:

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article reported that Epstein was arrested in Ferguson. She was arrested in St. Louis.

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