This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29146632
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Michael Brown: Ferguson protesters gather near highway | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Protesters are trying to block a highway in Ferguson, Missouri amid continuing anger over the shooting of an unarmed black teenager last month. | |
| Footage from the scene showed police out in force on the Interstate 70 highway, stopping protesters from reaching it and making several arrests. | |
| Many in Ferguson have demanded the arrest of the white police officer who shot Michael Brown, 18, on 9 August. | |
| On Tuesday city leaders were heckled by residents at a public meeting. | |
| The atmosphere in a local church hall on Tuesday night was charged as the largely black crowd challenged the mostly white leaders. | The atmosphere in a local church hall on Tuesday night was charged as the largely black crowd challenged the mostly white leaders. |
| "You've lost your authority to govern this community," said St Louis activist John Chasnoff, who was one of the residents to challenge the council during the meeting. | |
| "You're going to have to step aside peacefully if this community is going to heal." | "You're going to have to step aside peacefully if this community is going to heal." |
| 'Two Fergusons' | 'Two Fergusons' |
| Many of the audience held up their hands in a gesture that has been used to protest at Brown's killing. | |
| His supporters say the teenager was trying to surrender when he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson after being stopped for walking in the middle of the street. | His supporters say the teenager was trying to surrender when he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson after being stopped for walking in the middle of the street. |
| Ferguson, which has a population of 21,000, is a majority black city. Many residents questioned why the mayor, James Knowles, and five of the six city council members were white. | Ferguson, which has a population of 21,000, is a majority black city. Many residents questioned why the mayor, James Knowles, and five of the six city council members were white. |
| "I heard the mayor say Ferguson doesn't have a race problem,'" said resident Taurean Russell. "There must be two Fergusons." | "I heard the mayor say Ferguson doesn't have a race problem,'" said resident Taurean Russell. "There must be two Fergusons." |
| Before the meeting, council officials announced proposals to reduce the revenue collected from court fines. | Before the meeting, council officials announced proposals to reduce the revenue collected from court fines. |
| Critics have said this discriminates against low-income defendants who cannot afford private attorneys and who are often jailed for not paying the fines quickly enough. | Critics have said this discriminates against low-income defendants who cannot afford private attorneys and who are often jailed for not paying the fines quickly enough. |
| But the proposals were drowned out by anger from the audience who said nothing had changed since Brown's shooting. | But the proposals were drowned out by anger from the audience who said nothing had changed since Brown's shooting. |
| There were demands for the arrest of Mr Wilson who is currently on administrative leave from the Ferguson Police Department while a grand jury determines whether charges should be filed against him. | There were demands for the arrest of Mr Wilson who is currently on administrative leave from the Ferguson Police Department while a grand jury determines whether charges should be filed against him. |
| Last week, the US Justice Department announced it was launching a broad investigation into whether there was racial discrimination in the department. | Last week, the US Justice Department announced it was launching a broad investigation into whether there was racial discrimination in the department. |
| This is separate from a federal inquiry and the grand jury investigation into Brown's killing. | This is separate from a federal inquiry and the grand jury investigation into Brown's killing. |