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Ferguson takes stock after rage over grand jury decision After a night of violence in Ferguson, Nixon moves to prevent more destruction
(about 2 hours later)
FERGUSON, Mo. — A night of rage left behind the kind of scars that Ferguson has witnessed before: smoldering buildings, looted storefronts, fire-gutted cars. What marked even more difficult ground Tuesday was finding a way forward as police braced for more unrest and many African American protesters said their only recourse was the streets. FERGUSON, Mo. — After a wave of outrage left Ferguson smoldering, authorities moved Tuesday to prevent another night of destruction.
The anger unleashed late Monday had months to fester as a grand jury — convened in August — declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager. The decision means that Wilson, 28, will face no state charges for the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Extra police units were to be deployed. And Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) authorized more National Guards troops — he didn’t say how many — to aid police.
“The violence we saw in areas of Ferguson last night is unacceptable,” Nixon said in a statement, adding that he held talks with Guard and police officials “to ensure the protection of lives and property.”
The anger unleashed late Monday came after a grand jury — convened in August — declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager. The decision means that Wilson, 28, will face no state charges for the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
Soon, West Florissant Avenue — the epicenter of the summer riots after the shooting — was again in flames.Soon, West Florissant Avenue — the epicenter of the summer riots after the shooting — was again in flames.
At least two police cars and a half-dozen buildings were torched among the estimated 25 fires set overnight, said Ferguson Assistant Fire Chief Steve Fair. Among the buildings lost: a pizza shop, beauty supply store and two auto parts outlets. At least two police cars and a half-dozen buildings were torched amid the estimated 25 fires set overnight. Among the buildings lost: a pizza shop, beauty supply store and two auto parts outlets.
Looters ducked through the broken glass of a market whose display windows were boarded up as a precaution in advance of the grand jury decision. The messages on the plywood: “We’re Open.”Looters ducked through the broken glass of a market whose display windows were boarded up as a precaution in advance of the grand jury decision. The messages on the plywood: “We’re Open.”
“Those are dreams,” Johnson told local media. “Those are small-business owners, and we’ve torn those dreams away.” “Those are dreams,” Ron Johnson, a Missouri State Highway Patrol captain, told the Associated Press. “Those are small-business owners, and we’ve torn those dreams away.”
But protesters claim that their concerns over aggressive policing — sometimes described as military-style tactics — have been ignored. The grand jury decision, many believe, denies a chance for a full reckoning over Brown’s death. But protesters claim that their concerns over aggressive policing — sometimes described as military-style tactics — have been cast aside. The grand jury decision, many believe, denies a chance for a full reckoning over Brown’s death even though a separate Justice Department probe could result in federal civil rights charges.
“It’s legal to kill unarmed black men in America!” shouted a man known as T. Dubb as he stood on top of a car Monday night with a gas mask slung over his baseball cap.“It’s legal to kill unarmed black men in America!” shouted a man known as T. Dubb as he stood on top of a car Monday night with a gas mask slung over his baseball cap.
In the background, a crowd shouted, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” which has become a rallying cry for the demonstrations. In the background, a crowd shouted, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” which has become a rallying cry for the demonstrations. Near a “Seasons Greetings” light display, police fired tear-gas canisters.
Not far from Christmas lights in downtown Ferguson that read “Seasons Greetings,” police fired tear-gas canisters. The clashes were in sharp counterpoint to the appeals for calm stretching from President Obama and Brown’s relatives — who are expected to speak publicly on the case later Tuesday. In a video, Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, cried out to supporters to “burn” the area in revenge — comments later described by backers as an emotional outburst and not a call for arson.
Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, was last seen Monday in tears moments after she heard news of the grand jury’s decision. In a video, Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, cried out to supporters to “burn” the area in revenge — comments later described by backers as an emotional outburst and not a call for arson.
“They want the police to be held accountable, to treat us like Americans, too, so we can get equal justice,” Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump said on CNN. “This system always allows police to hurt and kill our children. We’ve got to change that dynamic.”
By first light Tuesday, police in Ferguson and nearby St. Louis were already planning for nightfall.By first light Tuesday, police in Ferguson and nearby St. Louis were already planning for nightfall.
Extra police units were expected to be deployed in anticipation of another night of street violence. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) approved plans to allow more National Guards troops to aid police. More than 80 people were arrested in Ferguson and nearby St. Louis, officials said, according to the AP. Area hospitals reported at least 14 injures.
“What I’ve seen tonight is probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August,” St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said early Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. “What I’ve seen tonight is probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August,” St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.
At least 61 arrests were made in Ferguson overnight, many for burglary and trespassing, St. Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman said. In the city of St. Louis, there were 21 additional arrests, Mayor Francis Slay said.
St. Louis-area hospitals reported at least 14 injures. Belmar, however, said he left “uplifted” that there was no loss of life.
“Unfortunately, this spun out of control,” added Belmar, even as protests in sympathy with Brown broke out around the country.“Unfortunately, this spun out of control,” added Belmar, even as protests in sympathy with Brown broke out around the country.
In New York, marchers briefly shut down the Triborough and Brooklyn bridges. Across the country in Oakland, protesters evaded a police barricade and blocked traffic on Interstate 580.In New York, marchers briefly shut down the Triborough and Brooklyn bridges. Across the country in Oakland, protesters evaded a police barricade and blocked traffic on Interstate 580.
In Washington, D.C., crowds chanted Brown’s name along U Street, a centerpiece of African American culture in the capital. Later, at least 400 protesters gathered in front of the White House.In Washington, D.C., crowds chanted Brown’s name along U Street, a centerpiece of African American culture in the capital. Later, at least 400 protesters gathered in front of the White House.
Reports of gunfire into the air in Ferguson forced the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel or divert flights into Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The restrictions were lifted a few hours before dawn as the protest crowds began to dwindle. Reports of gunfire into the air in Ferguson forced the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel or divert some flights into Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The restrictions were lifted a few hours before dawn.
“Citizens, go home,” police standing on West Florissant Avenue said over a loudspeaker as fire crews battled blazes.“Citizens, go home,” police standing on West Florissant Avenue said over a loudspeaker as fire crews battled blazes.
But some community leaders and others complained that police — apparently trying to avoid escalating confrontations — did not send in enough force to protect property.But some community leaders and others complained that police — apparently trying to avoid escalating confrontations — did not send in enough force to protect property.
“I know how outraged and upset people are, but where’s the justice in this?” said Rosalind Hagedorn, a homemaker who came out to join the demonstration in front of police headquarters on South Florissant Road, a main commercial strip in Ferguson.“I know how outraged and upset people are, but where’s the justice in this?” said Rosalind Hagedorn, a homemaker who came out to join the demonstration in front of police headquarters on South Florissant Road, a main commercial strip in Ferguson.
She pointing at a Beauty World shop with smashed windows. “I understand the emotion, but these people did nothing,” she said.She pointing at a Beauty World shop with smashed windows. “I understand the emotion, but these people did nothing,” she said.
Though many in St. Louis expected that Wilson would not be indicted, officials here faced a challenge in trying to provide rationale for that decision.Though many in St. Louis expected that Wilson would not be indicted, officials here faced a challenge in trying to provide rationale for that decision.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch, during a news conference, emphasized that testimony varied sharply among eyewitnesses and made it difficult to have a clear account of what unfolded during the 90-second confrontation between Wilson and Brown on Canfield Drive.St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch, during a news conference, emphasized that testimony varied sharply among eyewitnesses and made it difficult to have a clear account of what unfolded during the 90-second confrontation between Wilson and Brown on Canfield Drive.
“Some witnesses maintained their original statement that Mr. Brown had his hands in the air and was not moving toward the officer when he was shot,” McCulloch said. “Several witnesses said Mr. Brown did not raise his hands at all or that he raised them briefly and then dropped them and then turned toward Officer Wilson, who then fired several rounds.”“Some witnesses maintained their original statement that Mr. Brown had his hands in the air and was not moving toward the officer when he was shot,” McCulloch said. “Several witnesses said Mr. Brown did not raise his hands at all or that he raised them briefly and then dropped them and then turned toward Officer Wilson, who then fired several rounds.”
A statement from Wilson’s attorneys released shortly after the grand jury announcement said that officers must sometimes make “split-second and difficult decisions” and that Wilson “followed his training and followed the law.” The statement didn’t mention Brown.A statement from Wilson’s attorneys released shortly after the grand jury announcement said that officers must sometimes make “split-second and difficult decisions” and that Wilson “followed his training and followed the law.” The statement didn’t mention Brown.
For more than three months, the grand jury — made up of seven men and five women, nine white and three black — heard evidence on the shooting. They met 25 times and heard from 60 witnesses, McCulloch said.For more than three months, the grand jury — made up of seven men and five women, nine white and three black — heard evidence on the shooting. They met 25 times and heard from 60 witnesses, McCulloch said.
They considered charges ranging from first-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter. In a criminal trial, jurors must decide a crime has been committed beyond a reasonable doubt. But here, those jurors needed only to feel there was probable cause that Wilson had committed a crime.They considered charges ranging from first-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter. In a criminal trial, jurors must decide a crime has been committed beyond a reasonable doubt. But here, those jurors needed only to feel there was probable cause that Wilson had committed a crime.
In an interview with the St. Louis County Police Department a day after the shooting, Wilson said that Brown had begun the encounter by leaning into the squad car’s driver’s-side door while Wilson was still inside — a way to prevent the officer from getting out. The dispute turned physical, and Wilson, who could not reach his mace and did not feel it would be effective anyway, drew his firearm, he later told the grand jury. Brown managed to grab it, Wilson said.In an interview with the St. Louis County Police Department a day after the shooting, Wilson said that Brown had begun the encounter by leaning into the squad car’s driver’s-side door while Wilson was still inside — a way to prevent the officer from getting out. The dispute turned physical, and Wilson, who could not reach his mace and did not feel it would be effective anyway, drew his firearm, he later told the grand jury. Brown managed to grab it, Wilson said.
“I was guaranteed he was going to shoot me,” the officer said in the interview that was released along with other grand jury evidence. “He had completely overpowered me while I was sitting in the car.”“I was guaranteed he was going to shoot me,” the officer said in the interview that was released along with other grand jury evidence. “He had completely overpowered me while I was sitting in the car.”
Among the documents released Monday, one showed Wilson in the hospital — presumably right after the shooting — standing and looking head-on at the camera. One of his cheeks was red, but not heavily bruised, in contrast with rumors after the shooting that suggested he had a broken or cracked orbital socket.Among the documents released Monday, one showed Wilson in the hospital — presumably right after the shooting — standing and looking head-on at the camera. One of his cheeks was red, but not heavily bruised, in contrast with rumors after the shooting that suggested he had a broken or cracked orbital socket.
Brown’s family had asked for 4 1/2 minutes of silence after a grand jury decision was announced — symbolic of the 4 1/2 hours Brown’s body remained on the street after the shooting. Benjamin Crump, the Brown family attorney, said part of the fallout will be a push to have all police departments install squad car cameras to record every incident and interaction.
U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Monday night called Brown’s death a “tragedy” that has “sparked a national conversation about the need to ensure confidence between law enforcement and the communities they protect and serve.” “Instead of just trying to make a lot of noise,’’ he said, “we try to make a difference.”
Brian Murphy and Dana Hedgpeth in Washington contributed to this report.Brian Murphy and Dana Hedgpeth in Washington contributed to this report.