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Ferguson Day 11: 50 Protesters Arrested

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 20, 2014 3:45PM

In a novel change of tactics, police in Ferguson, Missouri attempted a calmer, “don’t fire tear gas at demonstrators” approach Tuesday night, after 11 days of police action with the world watching.

And the new strategy worked, at least for a while.

As the protests against the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown approached midnight, however, tensions sparked anew. At least 47 people were arrested in minor skirmishes Tuesday night. still, Capt. Ron Johnson, the Missouri Highway Patrol officer in charge of security in the St. Louis suburb, called it a “turning point” in the demonstrations.

“Protest crowds were a bit smaller, and they were out early. We had to respond to fewer incidents than the night before. There were no Molotov cocktails tonight. There were no shootings.”

By midnight, organizers leading the protests managed to clear the streets of most of the demonstrators. Some who remained, according to reporters covering the demonstrations, insisted on pushing the envelope.

Both police and demonstrators expressed frustration with the media presence in Ferguson.

Among those arrested was a National Lawyers Guild legal observer. Daily Banter reporter Chez Pazienza was reportedly maced.