Ferguson, Missouri Rocked By A Fourth Night Of Police Action

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 14, 2014 2:20PM

Police in Ferguson, MO continued their belligerent stance against demonstrators and arrested reporters as the protests against the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown continued for a fourth night. Police fired tear gas, stun grenades and smoke bombs into the crowd, some of whom were tossing Molotov cocktails at officers and property in the St. Louis suburb. The photo gallery included with this story offers a glimpse of the dire situation in Ferguson.

Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson said race relations were the town's top priority, which runs counter to the sight of camouflage and armor-clad police officers firing tear gas and stun grenades into the crowds of protestors. What's fueling the tensions between police and demonstrators is Jackson's tight control on the details behind the shooting death of Brown.

The identity of the officer who killed the teen has not been revealed, but Jackson said that the officer was struck by Brown during an altercation where Brown attempted to reach for the cop's gun. Witnesses to the shooting dispute Jackson's account and claim Brown had his hands raised as he was shot.

Police arrested 10 protesters Wednesday night, including St. Louis alderman Antonio French, who provided updates on the protests via his Twitter feed. One police officer is believed to have suffered a broken ankle. Meanwhile, police arrested Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery and Huffington Post reporter Ryan Reilly, who were covering the scene.

The protests are spreading across the country. One, at the historically black Howard University, gathered thousands of students raising their hands in what has become the symbol of the protests.

Groups across the country will participate in a National Moment of Silence this evening. In Chicago, the protest will take place 6:20 p.m. at Daley Plaza.

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