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Ferguson shooting: Protests spread across US | Ferguson shooting: Protests spread across US |
(35 minutes later) | |
Crowds have gathered across the US to protest against Monday's decision not to charge a police officer over the killing of black teen Michael Brown. | Crowds have gathered across the US to protest against Monday's decision not to charge a police officer over the killing of black teen Michael Brown. |
Demonstrations from New York to Seattle were mostly peaceful, with protesters chanting and waving placards. | Demonstrations from New York to Seattle were mostly peaceful, with protesters chanting and waving placards. |
In and around the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, scene of major riots on Monday, 2,200 National Guard troops were deployed to stop further unrest. | In and around the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, scene of major riots on Monday, 2,200 National Guard troops were deployed to stop further unrest. |
Meanwhile, the officer who shot Mr Brown said he had a "clean conscience". | Meanwhile, the officer who shot Mr Brown said he had a "clean conscience". |
Darren Wilson shot Mr Brown, 18, on 9 August in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking weeks of unrest. | Darren Wilson shot Mr Brown, 18, on 9 August in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking weeks of unrest. |
The grand jury's decision. announced late on Monday, means the police officer will not face state criminal charges over the shooting. | The grand jury's decision. announced late on Monday, means the police officer will not face state criminal charges over the shooting. |
Lawyers for Mr Brown's family have denounced the grand jury's decision as "unfair". | Lawyers for Mr Brown's family have denounced the grand jury's decision as "unfair". |
'Black lives matter' | |
With the number of troops more than trebled, the situation in Ferguson was calm for most of Tuesday, though demonstrators briefly closed a major road in central St Louis and rallies were staged outside the federal court house. | |
Late in the evening, however, tension began to rise in Ferguson. Protesters set a police vehicle alight after failing to overturn it, and police began to clear streets. | |
Elsewhere in the US: | Elsewhere in the US: |
Protesters carried signs saying "Black lives matter". They chanted "Hands up, don't shoot," a reference to claims by some witnesses that Mr Brown had his hands raised when he was shot. | |
Speaking from Chicago on Tuesday, President Barack Obama said there was "no excuse" for destructive behaviour and criminal acts of rioting, adding that those responsible should be prosecuted. | Speaking from Chicago on Tuesday, President Barack Obama said there was "no excuse" for destructive behaviour and criminal acts of rioting, adding that those responsible should be prosecuted. |
The frustration seen by the grand jury's decision, he said, had "deep roots in many communities of colour who have a sense that our laws are not being enforced uniformly or fairly". | The frustration seen by the grand jury's decision, he said, had "deep roots in many communities of colour who have a sense that our laws are not being enforced uniformly or fairly". |
He said he had ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to look at what steps could be taken to build trust in communities and make sure that "law enforcement is fair". | |
Much of the debate since August has centred on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot. | Much of the debate since August has centred on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot. |
Speaking to ABC News in his first public comments, Mr Wilson said there was nothing he could have done differently. He said he feared for his life. | Speaking to ABC News in his first public comments, Mr Wilson said there was nothing he could have done differently. He said he feared for his life. |
"The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right," he said. | "The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right," he said. |
He described Mr Brown as a "powerful man," saying he felt "like a five-year-old holding on to Hulk Hogan". | He described Mr Brown as a "powerful man," saying he felt "like a five-year-old holding on to Hulk Hogan". |
The policeman, who has been on administrative leave since the incident, denied witness statements that Mr Brown put his hands up. | The policeman, who has been on administrative leave since the incident, denied witness statements that Mr Brown put his hands up. |
He insisted that race played no part in the confrontation and that he would have acted in exactly the same way if the suspect had been white. | He insisted that race played no part in the confrontation and that he would have acted in exactly the same way if the suspect had been white. |
Process under scrutiny | Process under scrutiny |
More than 80 people were arrested amid riots across several areas of St Louis on Monday night. Sixty-one of those arrests were in Ferguson, with charges including burglary and trespassing. | More than 80 people were arrested amid riots across several areas of St Louis on Monday night. Sixty-one of those arrests were in Ferguson, with charges including burglary and trespassing. |
One police chief described it as the worst violence the town had ever seen. | One police chief described it as the worst violence the town had ever seen. |
Ferguson mayor James Knowles criticised what he said was a delay in deploying the National Guard, complaining that it did not come soon enough "to save all of our businesses". | Ferguson mayor James Knowles criticised what he said was a delay in deploying the National Guard, complaining that it did not come soon enough "to save all of our businesses". |
"Lives and property must be protected. This community deserves to have peace," Governor Nixon said on Tuesday, explaining his decision to bring in reinforcements. | "Lives and property must be protected. This community deserves to have peace," Governor Nixon said on Tuesday, explaining his decision to bring in reinforcements. |
Michael Brown family lawyer Benjamin Crump earlier described the grand jury process as "broken", but also said they condemned the violence that followed the decision. | Michael Brown family lawyer Benjamin Crump earlier described the grand jury process as "broken", but also said they condemned the violence that followed the decision. |
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton said the prosecutor's decision to announce the verdict late at night on Monday was "irresponsible". | Civil rights leader Al Sharpton said the prosecutor's decision to announce the verdict late at night on Monday was "irresponsible". |
Many in Ferguson's predominantly African-American community had called for the officer to be charged with murder, but a Missouri grand jury - of nine white and three black members - made no recommendation of charges. | Many in Ferguson's predominantly African-American community had called for the officer to be charged with murder, but a Missouri grand jury - of nine white and three black members - made no recommendation of charges. |