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Michael Brown death: Ferguson highway protest blocked | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Police in Ferguson have stopped protesters angry over the shooting of an unarmed black teenager last month from trying to block a nearby highway. | |
Police said 35 people were arrested as they tried to reach the Interstate 70 highway, but added that the protest was largely peaceful. | |
Many in Ferguson have demanded the arrest of the white police officer who shot Michael Brown, 18, on 9 August. | Many in Ferguson have demanded the arrest of the white police officer who shot Michael Brown, 18, on 9 August. |
Officer Darren Wilson has been on administrative leave since last month. | |
Police said 32 people were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly, with four people arrested on assault charges. | |
Organisers said the protest was specifically held in the same location as a similar demonstration in 1999. | |
'Two Fergusons' | 'Two Fergusons' |
On Tuesday, city leaders, mostly white, were heckled by the largely black crowd of residents at Ferguson's first city council meeting since the shooting. | |
"You've lost your authority to govern this community," said St Louis activist John Chasnoff. "You're going to have to step aside peacefully if this community is going to heal." | |
Many of the audience held up their hands in a gesture that has been used to protest at Brown's killing. | 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. |