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.
ICYMI: @GovJayNixon has declared a State of Emergency for #Ferguson and instituted a Midnight to 5AM curfew.
I support this action.
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 16, 2014Leaders from the community will be out to clear the streets by midnight. Anyone here after that WILL NOT have the support of the community.
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 16, 2014French Tweeted that the protest Saturday would start on 5 p.m.
"We have to be our own security tonight," Malik Shabazz. Brothers meet at QT at 5:00. https://t.co/b8RgtjvAwz
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 16, 2014From there, protesters marched peacefully.
Marching down W. Florissant in #Ferguson https://t.co/J1zxfVPcqi
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 17, 2014
Looks like a #blockparty in #Ferguson, lots of solidarity honks too http://t.co/69QTveFRcy
— Activist Post (@ActivistPost) August 17, 2014As midnight drew closer, tensions arose.
People needing to leave the area before midnight, both north and south exit points will be open to traffic on W. Florissant.
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) August 17, 2014Cops are out. Say plan is to start asking people to leave at midnight, not a hard curfew. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Y6rOi5QXH8
— Anonymous Operations (@YourAnonGlobal) August 17, 2014RT @alexwroblewski: Large St. Louis City police presence in #Ferguson with riot gear right now pic.twitter.com/9KNCpHyyEo
— Craig Newman (@craignewman) August 17, 201430 minutes to midnight. Crowds have moved mostly north to Canfield and Florissant. "Get ready to gear up," I hear protester say. #Fergurson
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) August 17, 2014Midnight came, though, with no sign of conflict.
So far... no arrests, no conflict... it is 12:02AM #Ferguson
— Operation Ferguson (@OpFerguson) August 17, 2014About 75 to 100 protesters remained after midnight, according to one account.
RT @my2cnz: 75-100 protesters defying curfew, defending their right to protest! http://t.co/uBzu9FTKac
— Robert Loerzel (@robertloerzel) August 17, 2014According to Live Streams - still a large group of protests on site chanting "Hands up don't shoot!" #Ferguson
— Operation Ferguson (@OpFerguson) August 17, 2014Around 1 a.m. CST, the police started to move in.
Police now saying "gas, gas, gas" and putting on gas masks. #Ferguson
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 17, 2014RT @alexwroblewski: "Gas gas gas! Masks up!" Police getting ready to advance on protesters in #Ferguson after curfew pic.twitter.com/ofvske1TyL
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) August 17, 2014Police line moving forward. https://t.co/YZeSfat7tc
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 17, 2014Tear gas was used. Here's AP video:
Tear gas deployed in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/zhqvh93Amc
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) August 17, 2014About that tear gas:
Should be noted, Ron Johnson said earlier today no tear gas or trucks would be used to enforce the curfew. http://t.co/5RdKN4g14d
— Paige Lavender (@paigelav) August 17, 2014Reports initially indicated that smoke, not gas, was used. However...
I tasted it and this was a lie RT @mattdpearce Police liaison tells press it's all been smoke, not gas.
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 17, 2014Police in Ferguson confirm they fired tear gas canisters on protesters defying a curfew: http://t.co/sORCVkl6Wb
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 17, 2014Ultimately, 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:
ICYMI: a remarkable moment between Captain Ron Johnson and a masked protestor: http://t.co/zJbVCONpnx #Ferguson
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 17, 2014Here's something that's frightening:
“All of us in the press pen were threatened with arrest if we left the area”—@ryanjreilly, #CNNreliable. Reminiscent of ‘free speech zones.’
— Alex Howard (@digiphile) August 17, 2014Meanwhile, 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