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| Ferguson protesters defy curfew to confront riot police | Ferguson protesters defy curfew to confront riot police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police fired teargas at protesters who defied a curfew imposed in the Missouri city of Ferguson, where an unarmed 18-year-old was shot dead by police. | |
| About 200 demonstrators in Ferguson ignored an order to return home at midnight made under a state of emergency declared by the state’s governor, Jay Nixon, following a week of violent clashes after the death of Michael Brown.“No justice, no curfew,” they chanted, as they gathered at one end of the main street where unrest has centred since last weekend. Dozens of police officers in riot gear, some carrying assault rifles, were poised at the other end of the street more than half an hour after the curfew came into effect. | |
| Nixon announced the measures on Saturday, in an attempt to quell disturbances that have rocked the city since police shot Brown dead a week ago. | Nixon announced the measures on Saturday, in an attempt to quell disturbances that have rocked the city since police shot Brown dead a week ago. |
| The move marked another shift in law enforcement tactics which have veered from overtly militarised to inclusive and conciliatory in an effort to contain protests over the killing of Brown, 18, the previous Saturday. | The move marked another shift in law enforcement tactics which have veered from overtly militarised to inclusive and conciliatory in an effort to contain protests over the killing of Brown, 18, the previous Saturday. |
| Nixon, a Democrat, said the latest measure were necessary after a small group of looters smashed windows, lobbed bottles and ransacked three stores on Friday night. The looters sabotaged not just property but the community’s peaceful protests, he said. | Nixon, a Democrat, said the latest measure were necessary after a small group of looters smashed windows, lobbed bottles and ransacked three stores on Friday night. The looters sabotaged not just property but the community’s peaceful protests, he said. |
| “We must have – and maintain – peace,” he said. “The eyes of the world are watching.” The curfew was scheduled to run from midnight to 5am local time. | “We must have – and maintain – peace,” he said. “The eyes of the world are watching.” The curfew was scheduled to run from midnight to 5am local time. |
| Nixon said the media would be given access to the curfew zone in order to observe it and ensure transparency. | Nixon said the media would be given access to the curfew zone in order to observe it and ensure transparency. |
| Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri state highway patrol, handed responsibility for policing the protests on Thursday when it was taken out of the hands of the St Louis County police, tried to placate angry activists who attended the press conference, held in a church. | Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri state highway patrol, handed responsibility for policing the protests on Thursday when it was taken out of the hands of the St Louis County police, tried to placate angry activists who attended the press conference, held in a church. |
| The curfew did not mean a return to military-style policing, he promised. “We won’t enforce it with tanks,” he said. “We won’t enforce it with teargas.” | The curfew did not mean a return to military-style policing, he promised. “We won’t enforce it with tanks,” he said. “We won’t enforce it with teargas.” |
| Community leaders who flanked Nixon and Johnson appeared to welcome the move but some residents and outside activists called it counterproductive and feared its enforcement could fuel a new round of mayhem. | Community leaders who flanked Nixon and Johnson appeared to welcome the move but some residents and outside activists called it counterproductive and feared its enforcement could fuel a new round of mayhem. |