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"Burn This Shit Down": Mayhem and Protests Engulf Ferguson "Burn This Shit Down": Mayhem and Protests Engulf Ferguson
(35 minutes later)
Tonight, utter chaos unfolded in Ferguson, Mo. after St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced that charges would not be filed against officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.Tonight, utter chaos unfolded in Ferguson, Mo. after St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced that charges would not be filed against officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
Standing outside the Ferguson Police Department headquarters, initially the mood of the crowd of a few thousand was jubilant, celebratory, and brimming with anticipation, but around 8 pm, when the announcement of the grand jury decision was made, all hell broke loose. Michael Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden addressed the crowd as McCullough was speaking, apparently aleady informed of what the decision was going to be. She broke down sobbing in tears and agony saying, “they took my baby,” and “we’re sick of this.” After that, the stepfather of Michael Brown, Louis Head, shouted through tears, “burn this shit down.” At that, some of the crowd got agitated and very aggressive with police. Standing outside the Ferguson Police Department headquarters, the mood of the crowd of a few thousand was initially jubilant and brimming with anticipation, but around 8 pm, when the announcement of the grand jury decision was made, all hell broke loose. Michael Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden addressed the crowd as McCullough was speaking, apparently already informed of what the decision was going to be. She broke down sobbing in tears and agony saying, “they took my baby,” and “we’re sick of this.” After that, the stepfather of Michael Brown, Louis Head, shouted through tears, “burn this shit down.” At that, some of the crowd got agitated and very aggressive with police.
Simultaneous with the announcement of the decision, St. Louis County officials released transcripts of grand jury testimony. Wilson, who is 6’4 and 210lbs, described Brown in his testimony as “Hulk Hogan,” and stated that he looked “angry as a demon.” According to Wilson, Brown reached for his gun while he was seated in his police cruiser and said “you are too much of a pussy to shoot me.” Simultaneous with the announcement of the decision, St. Louis County officials released transcripts of grand jury testimony. Wilson, who is 6’4 and 210 pounds, described Brown in his testimony as “Hulk Hogan,” and stated that he looked “angry as a demon.” According to Wilson, Brown reached for his gun while he was seated in his police cruiser and said “you are too much of a pussy to shoot me.”
The police took out their riot gear and formed a blockade in front of the police headquarters. There were also snipers visible on the roof of the police headquarters. In front of the Ferguson Police Department headquarters, after Head’s outburst and after the grand jury decision was announced, the police took out their riot gear and formed a blockade in front of the headquarters building. There were also snipers visible on the roof of the police headquarters.
After the police formed a line, the crowd began chanting various slogans: “hands up, don’t shoot,” “fuck the police,” “no justice, no peace,” etc. Some members of the crowd then dispersed south on South Florissant Road. The protesters who remained started throwing rocks at the police, others damaged a police cruiser. Police then told protesters, this is an unlawful assembly, disperse or you will be arrested. After the police formed a line, the crowd began chanting various slogans: “hands up, don’t shoot,” “fuck the police,” “no justice, no peace,” etc. Some members of the crowd then dispersed south on South Florissant Road. The protesters who remained started throwing rocks at the police. Others damaged a police cruiser. Police then told protesters they were assembled unlawfully and to disperse or face arrest.
When the protesters didn’t disperse, police then confronted the protesters and shot multiple tear gas or smoke canisters into the crowd. Police pushedthe crowd north on South Florissant. They were shrieks, people were running, washing their eyes out with milk and water. Some of the protesters were randomly shooting guns into the air, feeding into the chaotic environment. As the crowd moved north, a few protestors looted a couple of stores on South Florissant, including a Second Time Around resale store. But they were the minority by far, and in fact one of the other protesters, a woman, said to the looters, “don’t do this, this isn’t who we are.” Most of the protesters were peacefully assembled, chanting slogans, but there was a minority of protesters who decided to loot, to set fires, and to torch two police cars. The protesters were angry, they were hurt, they were disappointed, and some of the used violence as a way to vent their frustration. When the protesters didn’t disperse, police confronted them, shooting multiple tear gas or smoke canisters into the crowd and pushing thecrowd north on South Florissant. The protesters reacted by shrieking, running, and washing their eyes out with milk and water. Some of the protesters were randomly shooting guns into the air, feeding into the chaotic environment. As the crowd moved north, a few protestors looted a small number of stores on South Florissant, including a Second Time Around resale store. But they were the minority by far. Most of the protesters were peacefully assembled, chanting slogans, but there was a minority who decided to loot, to set fires, and to torch two police cars. The protesters were angry, they were hurt, they were disappointed, and some of them used violence as a way to vent their frustration. One of the other protesters, a woman, said to the looters, “don’t do this, this isn’t who we are.”
As we were pushed further north, I proceed to South Florissant and Airport Road, where I saw a Walgreens set on fire by protesters. Protesters also looted a T-Mobile store and an Aaron’s furniture outlet. I then drove over to West Florissant Avenue, where there multiple fires only a block or two from where Mike Brown was killed. Looters also hit up the McDonald’s that became infamous as where reporters camped during the first round of riots immediately after Brown’s killing. The crowd was pushed further north. At South Florissant and Airport Road, protesters set a Walgreens on fire. Protesters also looted a T-Mobile store and an Aaron’s furniture outlet. Over on West Florissant Avenue, a different crowd had set multiple fires only a block or two from where Mike Brown was killed. Looters also hit up the McDonald’s that became infamous as a location where reporters camped during the first round of riots immediately after Brown’s killing.
I can only describe the scene as chaos. Cars were running into each other, people fighting on the street, guns being shot off — I’d estimate I heard four or five shots throughout the night — and looting. As I was leaving, I saw more fires being set. The scene was chaos. In addition to the looting, cars were running into each other, people fighting on the street, and were guns being shot off. As I was leaving, I saw more fires being set.
Meanwhile, there were people in cars honking up and down South Florissant, trying to rile people up, saying, “don’t go to sleep, this is the night.” I heard a lot of people saying, “this is only the beginning, we’ll be back tomorrow.” Meanwhile, angry citizens in cars drove up and down South Florissant, honking, trying to rile up others, and saying, “don’t go to sleep, this is the night,” or, “this is only the beginning, we’ll be back tomorrow.”
Photo: Charlie Riedel/APPhoto: Charlie Riedel/AP