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Ferguson, Day 8: Tear Gas Deployed, Shots Fired As Protestors Defy Curfew

By Jon Graef in News on Aug 17, 2014 4:00PM

Seven protesters were arrested in Ferguson, MO, early Sunday morning for defying the curfew put in place by Gov. Jay Nixon as protests over the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown entered their eighth day.

On Saturday afternoon, news broke that Gov. Nixon declared a state of emergency and set a midnight to 5 a.m. curfew in response to the looting which marred what were otherwise peaceful protests.

The looting came after police suddenly and swiftly ordered protesters to disperse early Saturday morning, which, as witnesses said, caused a schism between peaceful protesters who protected store fronts and the looters.

According to the Huffington Post, Capt. Ron Johnson, the head of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was put in charge of managing the protests Wednesday, said no tear gas would be used to enforce the curfew. Put that tidbit in your memory bank for later.

Gov. Nixon's decision proved controversial, but he also had support from Antonio French, the St. Louis Alderman who has emerged as an on-the-ground authority thanks to his prolific use of social media.



French Tweeted that the protest Saturday would start on 5 p.m.

From there, protesters marched peacefully.



As midnight drew closer, tensions arose.

Midnight came, though, with no sign of conflict.

About 75 to 100 protesters remained after midnight, according to one account.

Around 1 a.m. CST, the police started to move in.

Tear gas was used. Here's AP video:

About that tear gas:

Reports initially indicated that smoke, not gas, was used. However...

Ultimately, seven protesters were arrested. One person was shot, according to the Wall Street Journal. Ryan Reilly, a Huffington Post reporter whose arrest for sparked national outrage, tweeted this:

Here's something that's frightening:

Meanwhile, news in the Brown story keeps breaking. CNN just reported that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered a second autopsy on Michael Brown's body. Anonymous released dispatch tapes from the calls of Michael Brown's shooting. A Grand Jury is expected to be put in place soon.
. And a Missouri State Senator called for the resignation of the Ferguson Police Chief.


Related:

Tensions Reescalate In Ferguson One Week After Michael Brown's Death.
Cop Who Killed Michael Brown Identified
Missouri Highway Patrol To Oversee Crowd Control In Ferguson