Clashes between demonstrators and the police are continuing in Ferguson, Missouri, since 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot six times, twice in the head, by police officer Darren Wilson on August 9. Two people were shot at by demonstrators and police report that they have come under heavy gunfire as the violence continued. Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson said that police officers didn’t shoot at the crowd despite coming under heavy attack. Protestors threw small objects, possibly rocks, at the police. Witnesses say that a rocket was also fired, erupting into flames. 31 people were arrested throughout the night.
90-year-old Holocaust survivor Heidi Epstein was amongst those arrested during the protests.
Police arrested Getty photographer Scott Olson on Monday after he is reported to have declined a police request to move on. It was the second time that police have arrested journalists covering the protests.
Ferguson authorities later signed a court declaration pledging not to arrest journalists covering the protests, unless they posed a threat to public security.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that tear gas was used by police officers to break up protestors.
Missouri’s governor Jay Nixon had lifted the midnight curfew that had been in place after protests had resulted in looting and burning of stores. U.S. President Barrack Obama said that the National Guard troops should be limited and urged more “healing” and less violence.
“While I understand the passions and the anger that arise over the death of Michael Brown, giving in to that anger by looting or carrying guns, and even attacking the police, only serves to raise tensions and stir chaos,” he said during a news conference on Monday.
Attorney-General Eric Holder is heading to Ferguson on Wednesday. The attorney general has said that around 40 FBI agents are scouring the neighborhood.
Dr. Michael Baden presented the findings of an autopsy conducted by the unfortunate boy’s family during a press conference. There was no sign of a struggle, according to Dr. Baden. The path of one bullet shows that he may have been lowering his head in surrender.
The 28-year-old police officer who shot the young man is on paid administrative leave and in hiding. Here he is pictured below standing over the dead body of Michael Brown –
The National Bar Association filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Ferguson police department for their handling of the matter.
