In a sign that tensions in Ferguson are continuing to de-escalate, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) has ordered the state’s national guard to begin withdrawal from the city of Ferguson.
Below is the statement issued by the governor’s office on Thursday.
I greatly appreciate the men and women of the Missouri National Guard for successfully carrying out the specific, limited mission of protecting the Unified Command Center so that law enforcement officers could focus on the important work of increasing communication within the community, restoring trust, and protecting the people and property of Ferguson. As we continue to see improvement, I have ordered the Missouri National Guard to begin a systematic process of withdrawing from the City of Ferguson.
Nixon had ordered the National Guard into Ferguson on Aug. 18, after protests over the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown left the city in chaos. Since then, the protests have decreased in size and police have said that the incidents of violence and looting have become less frequent as well.
Several things could still cause the protests to ramp up again, chief among them an announcement of whether or not the officer involved in the shooting will be charged. That announcement, however, may not come for weeks or months.
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