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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 policeman 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. |
The white officer who killed Mr Brown there says he has a "clean conscience". | |
Darren Wilson shot the 18-year-old on 9 August, sparking weeks of unrest in the Missouri town. | |
Many in Ferguson's predominantly African-American community had called for the officer to be charged with murder, but the grand jury's decision 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' | '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. | 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. Protesters set a police vehicle alight after failing to overturn it, and police began to clear streets, making a number of arrests. | |
At the scene: Joanna Jolly, BBC News, Ferguson | |
There's been confrontation outside Ferguson City Hall where a police vehicle was burnt earlier and tear gas still hangs in the air. There's a heavy police presence with several armoured cars and vehicles. | There's been confrontation outside Ferguson City Hall where a police vehicle was burnt earlier and tear gas still hangs in the air. There's a heavy police presence with several armoured cars and vehicles. |
There is tension as police try to move people from the area - officers are saying anyone standing in the street will be subject to arrest. Some are giving chase to people in the surrounding streets and tonight they have dogs with them. A police helicopter is hovering overhead with a spotlight. | There is tension as police try to move people from the area - officers are saying anyone standing in the street will be subject to arrest. Some are giving chase to people in the surrounding streets and tonight they have dogs with them. A police helicopter is hovering overhead with a spotlight. |
Further along, police and the National Guard face off with an angry crowd in front of the Police Department. There are fewer protesters, but a larger media presence. The crowd is jittery and there is a sense there could be further clashes. | Further along, police and the National Guard face off with an angry crowd in front of the Police Department. There are fewer protesters, but a larger media presence. The crowd is jittery and there is a sense there could be further clashes. |
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. | 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". | 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. | Speaking to ABC News in his first public comments, Mr Wilson said there was nothing he could have done differently. |
"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". |
He denied witness statements that Mr Brown put his hands up, and insisted that race played no part in the confrontation. | He denied witness statements that Mr Brown put his hands up, and insisted that race played no part in the confrontation. |
'Community deserves peace' | 'Community deserves peace' |
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. |
"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. |
A lawyer for Mr Brown's family, Benjamin Crump, earlier described the grand jury process as "broken", but also said they condemned the violence that followed the decision. | A lawyer for Mr Brown's family, Benjamin Crump, earlier described the grand jury process as "broken", but also said they condemned the violence that followed the decision. |