MOSCOW, November 21 (Sputnik) — Police in Ferguson, Missouri have made more arrests in the course of demonstrations held ahead of a Grand Jury decision on whether to indict a white police officer who shot dead an unarmed black teenager in August.
“Jay Nixon put out a state of emergency on us,” Yvette Harris, one of the protestors, told the Wall Street Journal. She added that the order was one reason for confrontations with police: “It’s making everybody mad, putting out this state of emergency.”
On Monday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency to come into effect across the state, a move which anticipates disorder in the aftermath of the announcement. The 30 day measure includes plans to deploy the National Guard along with the local and national police, to keep order and protect property.
However, those assembled in protest Ferguson cite the declaration and its presumption of violence as another reason for protest. A state of emergency was already declared in August, in the aftermath of the shooting.
On August 9 white police officer Darren Wilson fatally shot 18-year-old Brown after an altercation, Wilson maintains that he shot Brown after the teenager struggled with him for his gun, while other witnesses, including Brown’s companion, say the teenager had his arms raised. Ferguson protestors have shouted, “Hands up, don't shoot," at police during protests.
The grand jury of 12 people has since August been hearing testimony and assessing evidence in order to make a decision on whether to indict. Reports have surfaced in the media that a decision will be announced imminently, news which has made Ferguson the center of tensions. “Indict that cop,” shouted protestors gathered outside the Ferguson police station, the Chicago Tribune reports.
While protesters wait in hope of an indictment, a police union official told the AP after meeting with Wilson on Thursday that his side were not expecting criminal charges, “It's fair to say that neither he nor his defense team expect an indictment," Jeff Roorba told the reporter.
On Wednesday five people were arrested after confrontations with police, unrest which continued on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal reports that on both days, nonviolent protests were met with heavily prepared police in full crowd-control gear, armed with munitions capable of wounding. The St Louis Post Dispatch has reported that more arrests were made on Thursday, after protesters blocked traffic in front of police headquarters.
