Ferguson Missouri Michael Brown Protests – Background, SWAT Team, Second Shooting, VIDEOS and Pictures – Riots, Looting, Violence
Ferguson Missouri Michael Brown Protests – For the fifth night in a row protests raged through the streets of Ferguson over the killing of unarmed 18 year old Michael Brown.
Armed with rubber bullets, tear gas, body armor, and APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers), officers have been doing their best to maintain order as herds of people consume the suburb.
When the crowd refuses to follow directives, the police waste no time pumping tear gas canisters and firing rubber bullets to regain control. They were successful in securing the vandalism and looting crime scene that occurred Sunday Night.
Contrary to popular belief, many officers have done their best to exercise self-control in dealing with protesters.
“We’ve done everything we can to demonstrate a remarkable amount of restraint. If there was an easy way to fix this, we would have already solved the problem.” said St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar.
Gunfire has been reported from several officers, and so far at least 10 people have been arrested.
Michael Brown Background
Michael Brown was and 18-year-old African American male in Ferguson, a Missouri suburb, who was unarmed when he was shot by a police officer.
President Obama has committed to completing a full U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Michael Brown’s death. Obama said in a statement:
“I know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions, but … I urge everyone in Ferguson,Missouri, and across the country, to remember this young man through reflection and understanding,”
Second Shooting in Ferguson Missouri
On Wednesday morning a man who drew a handgun near the protest site was shot by a St. Louis County police officer. The man was part of a group of suspects the police had been looking for. At roughly 1 a.m. St. Louis police officers had received a call about 4-5 men with ski masks and shotguns. When they ran into the group of suspects they were fired at and subsequently returned fire. The man who was shot was taken to a local hospital.
Throughout the night protesters threw bottles and tear gas canisters back at the police. Looting, vandalism, violent protests, and arrests have become commonplace in these Michael Brown Protests.
Swat Team Swarms Michael Brown Protest in Ferguson Missouri
RELEASED: Wash Post’s @WesleyLowery and Huffpo’s @ryanjreilly leave the #Ferguson jail after their arrest. pic.twitter.com/xfHLwz1oBa — Michael Calhoun (@michaelcalhoun) August 14, 2014
SWAT overlooks protestors in #Ferguson. They’ve all moved to sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/peY5cOVBZl
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
I counted 70+ SWAT officers. Guns trained on crowds. Insanity. pic.twitter.com/stev2G6v4b — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
“This is not open for discussion.” — cop on loudspeaker, telling crowd to leave the area pic.twitter.com/KYaNaFbvzw
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Overkill in #Ferguson. Officer won’t answer my question about why this is needed. pic.twitter.com/iSPsP1Rxa1 — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Right now in Ferguson https://t.co/SHJoIPv4wv — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Crowd near site of shooting chants “hands up, don’t shoot.” #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/QjRW4Zqa0n — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Anthony Ross, 26, protesting across from #Ferguson Police station. pic.twitter.com/henVBbRW4R — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Church group performance off the back of the back of a truck in #ferguson https://t.co/63Tk3JBZkm — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
#Ferguson pic.twitter.com/ANCQfniGJc — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Police militarization on display in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/m9jyPq3ALq — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
More from #Ferguson this morning pic.twitter.com/82Ylq2SqzK — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
InfoWars in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/5L9FarFnpm — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Heavily armed officer stands watch as police pull footage from camera at local business pic.twitter.com/Ei7TVEznz2 — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
The QT #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/x9rwWdJ4uv — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Graffiti in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/hsAVJUz6eN — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014