This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2015/aug/11/ferguson-protests-clashes-arrests-state-of-emergency-live-updates
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ferguson protests: clashes and arrests during state of emergency – live updates | Ferguson protests: clashes and arrests during state of emergency – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.59pm AEST05:59 | |
| The police on West Florissant Avenue have made a move against a group of protesters, my colleagues report from the scene: | |
| #ferguson Police now rushing forward https://t.co/IsuNXKeHTg | |
| Oliver Laughland reports that pepper spray has again been used by officers. At least two fresh arrests were made, he says. | |
| Police just charged at protesters and snatched several men. @stlcountypd officer alleges "they had weapons". Ferguson pic.twitter.com/BcSbKNfLKf | |
| A car has now been surrounded by police officers and is being searched. | |
| 2.51pm AEST05:51 | |
| Summary | |
| Reuters has filed this latest round-up of tonight’s events: | |
| Police in riot gear contained roughly 200 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday to mark the anniversary of the police shooting of an unarmed black teen whose death ignited a national firestorm on race relations. | |
| The demonstrators, some waving flags, beating drums, and shouting anti-police slogans, marched along a street that was a flashpoint of last year’s riots, which erupted after white police officer Darren Wilson shot dead 18-year-old black teen Michael Brown. | |
| Nine people were arrested late on Monday after a group of protesters briefly blocked the roadway, though demonstrations late into the evening were largely peaceful. | |
| Authorities had declared a state of emergency on Monday for the St. Louis suburb and surrounding areas after police officers shot and critically wounded a man in an exchange of gunfire Sunday night, marring what had been a day of peaceful demonstrations. | |
| Among the demonstrators on Monday evening was 51-year-old Ferguson resident Roberta Lynch, who said relations between the police and community had improved little over the past year. | |
| “They are doing the same old stuff, taking our rights,” Lynch said. “They need to give us our space.” | |
| Monday’s demonstrations capped a day of civil disobedience called by activists to protest the shooting of Brown and other unarmed black men across the United States by police. | |
| Tensions grew as darkness fell on Monday, with several confrontations between police wearing riot gear and demonstrators. Small unmanned aerial drones circled above the crowd. | |
| St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar, standing across the street from the demonstrators, told reporters that police officers were going to give protesters leeway to march, but said the authorities also had to maintain public safety. | |
| “We are going to let them vent and we are going to manage it the best we possibly can,” Belmar said. “Last night was pretty out of control at times. Unfortunately, all the good work that’s happening on both sides of the street has been marred by violence.” | |
| 2.41pm AEST05:41 | |
| Valeri Felix, 13, was with her father taking part in a peaceful protest. My colleague Oliver Laughland spoke to her: | |
| 2.35pm AEST05:35 | |
| About 60 protesters were arrested by police earlier after blocking interstate highway 70 in both directions near Ferguson, bringing the day’s total arrests to almost 120 before this evening’s additions. | |
| Traffic was held up as police forcefully confronted demonstrators. Two reporters covering the protest action were briefly detained before being released, they said. | |
| 2.27pm AEST05:27 | 2.27pm AEST05:27 |
| St Louis county police department says “at least nine” people have been arrested this evening so far. | St Louis county police department says “at least nine” people have been arrested this evening so far. |
| They were arrested for resisting or interfering with arrest, the PD says. | They were arrested for resisting or interfering with arrest, the PD says. |
| It also says the young woman arrested earlier is 18, not 12 as had been suggested: | It also says the young woman arrested earlier is 18, not 12 as had been suggested: |
| Woman arrested was not 12 yoa, but 18. She's 1 of at least 9 arrested in accordance w/State Charge 575.150: Resisting/interfering w/arrest. | Woman arrested was not 12 yoa, but 18. She's 1 of at least 9 arrested in accordance w/State Charge 575.150: Resisting/interfering w/arrest. |
| 2.24pm AEST05:24 | 2.24pm AEST05:24 |
| West Florissant Avenue runs roughly north to south from Ferguson to St Louis. | West Florissant Avenue runs roughly north to south from Ferguson to St Louis. |
| Guardian reporter Jon Swaine says typically protests have tended to see police and demonstrators face off along the avenue; tonight has mostly seen officers on one side of the street and protesters on the other. | Guardian reporter Jon Swaine says typically protests have tended to see police and demonstrators face off along the avenue; tonight has mostly seen officers on one side of the street and protesters on the other. |
| Those on the scene say there are still several hundred people assembled there. | Those on the scene say there are still several hundred people assembled there. |
| 2.14pm AEST05:14 | 2.14pm AEST05:14 |
| The focus for tonight’s protests and police presence is West Florissant Avenue. | The focus for tonight’s protests and police presence is West Florissant Avenue. |
| The police presence appears pretty heavy, and reinforcements are arriving: | The police presence appears pretty heavy, and reinforcements are arriving: |
| More police arriving on West Florissant #ferguson https://t.co/ZXwyQNAtcj | More police arriving on West Florissant #ferguson https://t.co/ZXwyQNAtcj |
| Despite police insistence that they retreat to the sidewalk, protesters appear to have succeeded at least in part in closing the street: | Despite police insistence that they retreat to the sidewalk, protesters appear to have succeeded at least in part in closing the street: |
| Protesters have completely shut down the street in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/jZqiv2aD3t | Protesters have completely shut down the street in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/jZqiv2aD3t |
| 2.02pm AEST05:02 | 2.02pm AEST05:02 |
| Three prominent protesters who were arrested during an earlier demonstration were released from custody earlier on Monday. | Three prominent protesters who were arrested during an earlier demonstration were released from custody earlier on Monday. |
| Philosopher Cornel West, DeRay McKesson and Johnetta “Netta” Elzie were among demonstrators detained in plastic handcuffs and arrested by officers from the Department of Homeland Security and St Louis Metropolitan Police at the federal courthouse in the city’s downtown district. | Philosopher Cornel West, DeRay McKesson and Johnetta “Netta” Elzie were among demonstrators detained in plastic handcuffs and arrested by officers from the Department of Homeland Security and St Louis Metropolitan Police at the federal courthouse in the city’s downtown district. |
| Today, @Nettaaaaaaaa was arrested as she filmed the police. & once I realized she was being arrested, I questioned it. I was then arrested. | Today, @Nettaaaaaaaa was arrested as she filmed the police. & once I realized she was being arrested, I questioned it. I was then arrested. |
| McKesson said he had been charged with “unusually obstructing the usual use of entrances” at the St Louis department of justice building. | McKesson said he had been charged with “unusually obstructing the usual use of entrances” at the St Louis department of justice building. |
| My wrist is legit sore and bruised. I had two STL city police officers arrest me. One held my elbow extremely tight | My wrist is legit sore and bruised. I had two STL city police officers arrest me. One held my elbow extremely tight |
| You can read McKesson’s comment piece on Ferguson for Guardian US here: | You can read McKesson’s comment piece on Ferguson for Guardian US here: |
| Related: Ferguson and beyond: how a new civil rights movement began – and won't end | DeRay McKesson | Related: Ferguson and beyond: how a new civil rights movement began – and won't end | DeRay McKesson |
| 1.52pm AEST04:52 | 1.52pm AEST04:52 |
| Associated Press has this take – including some bullish words from police chief Jon Belmar: | Associated Press has this take – including some bullish words from police chief Jon Belmar: |
| Police have made several arrests in Ferguson after protesters blocked a traffic lane on West Florissant Avenue. | Police have made several arrests in Ferguson after protesters blocked a traffic lane on West Florissant Avenue. |
| Officers with bullhorns directed protesters to clear the roadway, and others in riot gear forced people out of the street. Some demonstrators threw water bottles and other debris at officers. | Officers with bullhorns directed protesters to clear the roadway, and others in riot gear forced people out of the street. Some demonstrators threw water bottles and other debris at officers. |
| St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar told the Associated Press: “They’re not going to take the street tonight. That’s not going to happen.” | St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar told the Associated Press: “They’re not going to take the street tonight. That’s not going to happen.” |
| Several people were handcuffed and put into two vans. | Several people were handcuffed and put into two vans. |
| “What did I do?” one woman asked repeatedly. | “What did I do?” one woman asked repeatedly. |
| Monday marks the fourth consecutive night of protests marking the anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. | Monday marks the fourth consecutive night of protests marking the anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. |
| 1.48pm AEST04:48 | 1.48pm AEST04:48 |
| Earlier on Monday, Michael Brown Senior, the father of Michael Brown, thanked supporters for their peaceful protests: | Earlier on Monday, Michael Brown Senior, the father of Michael Brown, thanked supporters for their peaceful protests: |
| Thank you Ferguson/St Louis and the country for showing up and making the events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday meaningful, inspiring and successful. With your support, we properly honored your friend and my son’s memory. | Thank you Ferguson/St Louis and the country for showing up and making the events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday meaningful, inspiring and successful. With your support, we properly honored your friend and my son’s memory. |
| My family and I are truly humbled by the level of support that we received over this weekend. Our marches were all done very peacefully. So please be careful, mindful and protect yourselves from those who would like to see this be unsuccessful. | My family and I are truly humbled by the level of support that we received over this weekend. Our marches were all done very peacefully. So please be careful, mindful and protect yourselves from those who would like to see this be unsuccessful. |
| 1.45pm AEST04:45 | 1.45pm AEST04:45 |
| There are reports of several arrests being made, though obviously numbers are hard to ascertain at this point. | There are reports of several arrests being made, though obviously numbers are hard to ascertain at this point. |
| Concerns have been raised after a 12-year-old girl was reportedly detained by police, although conflicting reports say she could be older: | Concerns have been raised after a 12-year-old girl was reportedly detained by police, although conflicting reports say she could be older: |
| "I didn't do anything, I'm 12." Girl detained as multiple people just arrested in #Ferguson. Bottles being thrown. pic.twitter.com/9S6PlJmr7U | "I didn't do anything, I'm 12." Girl detained as multiple people just arrested in #Ferguson. Bottles being thrown. pic.twitter.com/9S6PlJmr7U |
| Re reports of a 12 y/o girl being arrested, @stlcountypd PIO Schellman said they found her ID and she was 18. He didn't know why arrest made | Re reports of a 12 y/o girl being arrested, @stlcountypd PIO Schellman said they found her ID and she was 18. He didn't know why arrest made |
| There are also reports of a few water bottles being thrown in the direction of police – but reports, too, that protesters are calling for this to stop. | There are also reports of a few water bottles being thrown in the direction of police – but reports, too, that protesters are calling for this to stop. |
| 1.39pm AEST04:39 | 1.39pm AEST04:39 |
| My colleagues Jon Swaine and Oliver Laughland send this report from Ferguson: | My colleagues Jon Swaine and Oliver Laughland send this report from Ferguson: |
| Police and a few dozen protesters just clashed in West Florissant Avenue outside the branch of McDonalds that became notorious during the Ferguson protests after reporters were arrested. | Police and a few dozen protesters just clashed in West Florissant Avenue outside the branch of McDonalds that became notorious during the Ferguson protests after reporters were arrested. |
| Officers in riot gear from St Louis County and the Missouri state highway patrol surged into the road when protesters marched past and refused to get on the sidewalk. Several officers squirted mace or pepper spray into the faces of protesters. | Officers in riot gear from St Louis County and the Missouri state highway patrol surged into the road when protesters marched past and refused to get on the sidewalk. Several officers squirted mace or pepper spray into the faces of protesters. |
| I saw three arrests but there appeared to be more. One man was pounced on by officers and detained despite already making it to the sidewalk and a grassy patch outside the restaurant. Several protesters were indignant about being maced as they moved off the road. | I saw three arrests but there appeared to be more. One man was pounced on by officers and detained despite already making it to the sidewalk and a grassy patch outside the restaurant. Several protesters were indignant about being maced as they moved off the road. |
| St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar, not typically seen on the streets alongside the rank and file, is on the front line tonight. One officer is repeating: “This is the St Louis county police. Get off the roadway. You’re going to back up.” | St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar, not typically seen on the streets alongside the rank and file, is on the front line tonight. One officer is repeating: “This is the St Louis county police. Get off the roadway. You’re going to back up.” |
| The atmosphere is edgy and the weather still hot. Today has been a tense day following last night’s shooting and late clashes between police and protesters. A lot of people seem in no mood to go home yet. | The atmosphere is edgy and the weather still hot. Today has been a tense day following last night’s shooting and late clashes between police and protesters. A lot of people seem in no mood to go home yet. |
| Chief Jon Belmar of @stlcountypd is, unusually, out on the front line tonight in Ferguson. (On right.) pic.twitter.com/E1Hbs3AK71 | Chief Jon Belmar of @stlcountypd is, unusually, out on the front line tonight in Ferguson. (On right.) pic.twitter.com/E1Hbs3AK71 |
| 1.35pm AEST04:35 | 1.35pm AEST04:35 |
| Opening summary | Opening summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Tensions are running high in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday evening as a heavy police presence faces protesters who have come out to mark the anniversary of the shooting of teenager Michael Brown last year. | Tensions are running high in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday evening as a heavy police presence faces protesters who have come out to mark the anniversary of the shooting of teenager Michael Brown last year. |
| Earlier a state of emergency was declared, and within the last half an hour, St Louis county police department has said it no longer considers the protests to be peaceful: | Earlier a state of emergency was declared, and within the last half an hour, St Louis county police department has said it no longer considers the protests to be peaceful: |
| (1/2) Safety, our top priority, is now compromised. This is no longer a peaceful protest. Participants are now unlawfully assembled. | (1/2) Safety, our top priority, is now compromised. This is no longer a peaceful protest. Participants are now unlawfully assembled. |
| Jon Swaine, my colleague who is reporting from the scene, says police have already charged at groups of protesters: | Jon Swaine, my colleague who is reporting from the scene, says police have already charged at groups of protesters: |
| St Louis County PD surged at protesters from East side of W Florissant Ave, driving them into McDonalds lot. Arrested several. #Ferguson | St Louis County PD surged at protesters from East side of W Florissant Ave, driving them into McDonalds lot. Arrested several. #Ferguson |
| You can follow Jon’s updates from Ferguson @jonswaine. Guardian US reporter Oliver Laughland is also in the city and tweeting @oliverlaughland. | You can follow Jon’s updates from Ferguson @jonswaine. Guardian US reporter Oliver Laughland is also in the city and tweeting @oliverlaughland. |
| I will have live coverage of the latest developments here on the live blog, and will tweet key events @Claire_Phipps. | I will have live coverage of the latest developments here on the live blog, and will tweet key events @Claire_Phipps. |