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Ferguson anniversary: State of emergency declared as dozens arrested | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
More than 20 people have been arrested in Ferguson, Missouri, amid protests marking the anniversary of the death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. | |
A state of emergency was declared, as officers in riot gear forced people off the streets on Monday night. | |
A police spokesman said 23 people were detained, but "there were no shots fired, no smoke or tear gas used". | |
On Sunday, Tyrone Harris, 18, was critically wounded after being fired on by police in Ferguson. | |
The authorities say Mr Harris was armed and opened fire, but his father has described their account of events as "a bunch of lies". | |
Prosecutors have filed 10 charges against him, including assaulting an officer. | |
The shooting followed day of peaceful and sombre commemorations in memory of Michael Brown. | |
The 18-year-old was shot in August 2014 by a white police officer who was later cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury and the US Department of Justice. | |
The death triggered a wave of protests over alleged racism and the use of excessive force by US police officers. | |
On Monday night marchers chanted, beat drums and carried signs in memory of Brown - but some demonstrators also attacked officers, according to the St Louis police department. | |
It tweeted: "Officers are being hit with rocks and bottles. We continue to support free speech, but agitators who ignore orders to disperse risk arrest." | |
By early morning on Tuesday, most people had left the areas where confrontations had occurred. | |
'Give us space' | |
Ferguson resident Roberta Lynch, 51, said relations with police had not improved in the year since Michael Brown's death. | |
"They are doing the same old stuff, taking our rights," she said. "They need to give us our space." | |
Earlier on Monday, police arrested about 50 protesters - including civil rights activist Cornel West - who staged a sit-in outside the main courthouse in St Louis. | |
Other protesters also briefly blocked a major highway - Interstate 70 - during the afternoon rush hour and a number of arrests were made. | Other protesters also briefly blocked a major highway - Interstate 70 - during the afternoon rush hour and a number of arrests were made. |
The demonstrations were part of a day of civil disobedience called by activists in St Louis and other major US cities. | The demonstrations were part of a day of civil disobedience called by activists in St Louis and other major US cities. |
What happened in Ferguson in 2014? | What happened in Ferguson in 2014? |
The state of emergency - designed to allow to take control in and around Ferguson - was issued on Monday afternoon by St Louis County Executive Steve Stenger and authorised by county Police Chief Jon Belmar. | |
According to police, a gunfight erupted between two rival groups in West Florissant Avenue and a suspect, whom they identified as Tyrone Harris, then shot at plain-clothes police officers, who returned fire. | |
Police Chief Belmar said those who had opened fire on the officers "were criminals, they weren't protesters". | Police Chief Belmar said those who had opened fire on the officers "were criminals, they weren't protesters". |
But Mr Harris's father said his son had been unarmed and was "running for his life". | |
There have been a number of high-profile shootings of unarmed black men in US cities in recent months. | There have been a number of high-profile shootings of unarmed black men in US cities in recent months. |
The most recent case involved 19-year-old Christian Taylor, who was shot dead by a white police officer after he was spotted on surveillance footage vandalising cars in Arlington, Texas, on Friday. | |
Campaigners were further incensed when a justice department investigation found widespread racial bias in the Ferguson police force. | Campaigners were further incensed when a justice department investigation found widespread racial bias in the Ferguson police force. |
Are you in Ferguson? Have you been affected by recent events? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Ferguson? Have you been affected by recent events? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |