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By Staff Writers, Russia Today
RT.com
Tuesday, Nov 25, 2014
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| A masked protester holds a flare during a demonstration, following the grand jury decision in the Ferguson, Missouri shooting of Michael Brown, in Oakland, California November 24, 2014 (Reuters / Stephen Lam) |
The residents of Ferguson were outraged after learning of the Missouri grand jury's decision to acquit Darren Wilson of killing black teenager Michael Brown. Buildings were burnt, shops were looted, while clashes with cops were frequent.
A number of stores and cars have been set ablaze in Ferguson, in what police say is even more violent compared to the unrest in August in the aftermath of Brown's death.
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| A car burns on the street after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri November 24, 2014 (Reuters / Jim Young) |
The situation is still out of control in some areas of Ferguson, with protesters releasing fireworks into the streets.
Upon learning of the verdict, the crowd erupted in anger. They converged on a barricade that had been erected by police, who were standing nearby in riot gear. The protesters began throwing objects at the law enforcement officers, who stood their ground.
There was a heavy police presence, who used smoke canisters and trucks to force waves of violent protesters down the street away from the police building soon after sporadic gunshots were heard. Police cars were also vandalized by the protesters.
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| Police officers stand next to a vandalized police car outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown November 24, 2014 (Reuters / Jim Young) |
Despite pleas for peace from the late Michael Brown's family, these went largely unheeded, as more than a dozen businesses were torched. Firefighters were unable to reach some of the buildings which were set on fire, due to the danger of gunfire in the vicinity.
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| A woman approaches the barricade to confront the police outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014 (Reuters / Adrees Latif) |
The chief of St. Louis County Police says that 29 people have been arrested so far, though that figure is likely to rise as the night progresses. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said during an early morning news conference that he "personally heard about 150 shots fired" during the course of the night, but said police did not fire a shot, AP reported.
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| Police clash with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on November 24, 2014 (AFP Photo / Jewel Samad) |
Police have reportedly used teargas on a number of occasions through the night outside the police department. A woman was reportedly said to be unconscious as a result and had to be carried to safety.
Troops from the national guard have also been arriving in Ferguson to give law enforcement officers extra support, following an order from Missouri governor Jay Nixon.
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| A protester confronts a police officer after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014 (Reuters / Adrees Latif) |
The violence started after a jury of nine whites and three blacks failed to convict a white police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown an unarmed, black 18-year-old.
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| Protesters attack a police car during clashes following the grand jury decision in the death 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on November 24, 2014 (AFP Photo / Jewel Samad) |
This led to increased racial tensions in Ferguson, which is predominantly black, though had just three black police officers on a force of 53 before the Brown shooting.
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