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Indefinite curfew: Ferguson police deploy tear gas against protesters
Tear
gas has once again been used against protesters in Ferguson more than
two hours before the extended curfew was set to begin. Police are
telling people, venting their outrage at the murder of a black
teenager by a cop, to leave the streets.
Protesters
were marching to a local mall, acting as a temporary police base,
when police shot tear gas at them, after just one notice to disperse,
Paulina Leonovich field producer for RT's Ruptly agency says.
However,
the Missouri Highway Patrol said it was using the smoke canisters to
disperse "aggressors" who were trying to infiltrate a law
enforcement command post, Reuters reports.
Paulina Leonovich
Crowd marched to the mall on Florissant police used tear gas to disperse it #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/4VaAvo4SvL
In
order to “ensure
public safety,” police
drove into the protest area in armored vehicles shooting smoke
canisters. The tear gas shot by police also reportedly hit the
media standing area.
“We
are trying to use the least amount of force to provide people the
ability to speak while also protecting the property of the people of
Ferguson,” Missouri
governor Jay Nixon said on Sunday in an interview on CNN.
Nixon
didn’t mention if authorities are planning to cancel the curfew any
time soon, adding it depends on the community. “We'd
like to see it ratcheted down. What we'd like to see, that will be
judged by the community," he
said.
Missouri
Highway Patrol spokesman Justin Wheetley elaborated further, saying
that officials will decide on whether to cancel the curfew on a
day-by-day basis.
During
the previous night, some of the most hardline protesters remained on
the streets after the curfew, annoyed by what they say are the
authorities’ efforts to quell the protest by imposing more
restrictions on residents instead of addressing the issue.
Police
used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, and arrested
seven people for disobedience. One person has also been shot and
critically wounded, and the shooter is still at large, police said.
The
curfew was imposed following a week of racially charged protests
after Darren Wilson, a Ferguson police officer, shot and killed
unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown. Authorities say the curfew is
needed to separate peaceful protesters from the looters who marred
rallies earlier in the week.
However,
critics maintain police are mishandling the aftermath and refusing to
hear the community’s call for justice. Amnesty International also
disagreed with the curfew being a viable option to ease tensions.
Margaret Huang, deputy executive director of Amnesty International
USA, said, “the people of Ferguson should not have their rights
further restricted.”
“It's
hard to build trust when the governor won't meet with community
members and restricts their movements with a curfew,” Huang said.
The
Ferguson tragedy not also triggered outrage in the town and massive
vigils, but also saw thousands of people across the United States
marching in solidarity with people who have been victims of police
brutality.
Authorities
say that the US Department of Justice is increasing its efforts in
the investigation, with FBI agents questioning witnesses and an
additional autopsy will be performed by a federal medical examiner.
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