After apology, Ferguson police chief’s attempt to march with protesters backfires

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/after-apology-ferguson-police-chiefs-attempt-to-march-with-protesters-backfires/2014/09/26/12f6cfd5-a719-48df-a5a9-711bc9ad9da6_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

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Hours after Ferguson, Mo., Police Chief Thomas Jackson apologized for the first time to the family of slain teen Michael Brown, protesters who viewed it as too little too late took to the streets to again call for his resignation.

The police chief’s message Thursday came in the form of a scripted video of Jackson, dressed in plain clothes. “I’m truly sorry for the loss of your son,” he said in the video. “I’m also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street.”

Had it come weeks earlier, perhaps it could have been the start of a much-needed reconciliation process in Ferguson.

But for the second time this week​, tensions once again flared, this time outside of the Ferguson police station.

“Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” the protesters chanted.

Around 11 p.m. Jackson, dressed again in plain clothes, joined the protesters and tried to march with them, but according to eyewitnesses, police quickly surrounded him, and chaos ensued.

Chief started marching with protesters. Apparently other police started to surround him as he walked. — Valerie Schremp Hahn (@valeriehahn) Sep 26 2014

Chief started marching with protesters. Apparently other police started to surround him as he walked.

— Valerie Schremp Hahn (@valeriehahn) Sep 26 2014

For the record: This is the second riot this police chief has incited. He needs to resign. https://t.co/HBIxtcLPsU #Ferguson — Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) September 26, 2014

For the record: This is the second riot this police chief has incited. He needs to resign. https://t.co/HBIxtcLPsU #Ferguson — Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) September 26, 2014

#Ferguson protesters arrested in front of police department. pic.twitter.com/SjbCaxABeE — Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) September 26, 2014

#Ferguson protesters arrested in front of police department. pic.twitter.com/SjbCaxABeE

— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) September 26, 2014

Police, some in riot gear, clashed with protesters. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, at least four protesters were arrested in the skirmish.

Face to face with calls for his ouster, Jackson continued to try to make amends. “All those things that are causing mistrust are being evaluated, and we are going to be making changes,” he said, according to the Post Dispatch.

The standoff between police and protesters continued well into Friday morning. By 2 a.m., a smaller group of protesters faced off with a long line of police in riot gear.

2 am Stand off between the police and protesters #ferguson #vscocam pic.twitter.com/IIOLTHEtCc — God Prepared A Table (@Thisl) September 26, 2014

2 am Stand off between the police and protesters #ferguson #vscocam pic.twitter.com/IIOLTHEtCc

— God Prepared A Table (@Thisl) September 26, 2014

An independent journalist in St. Louis reported that he, too, had been arrested in front of the police department.

I’m in a police van in the #ferguson pd parking lot. No idea why I was arrested, probably going to need bail money. — Umar Lee (@STLAbuBadu) September 26, 2014

I’m in a police van in the #ferguson pd parking lot. No idea why I was arrested, probably going to need bail money. — Umar Lee (@STLAbuBadu) September 26, 2014

NOTE: The video — “Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson’s Urgent Announcement” — was provided by the Devin James Group on Vimeo.