Nearly four months after Michael Brown was fatally shot by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, unrest in the St. Louis suburb has reached a crescendo following the decision by a grand jury to not indict Wilson for shooting the unarmed teenager.
Despite a press conference held before the grand jury's announcement by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon calling for people of all sides to "show tolerance, mutual respect and restraint," residents of the embattled town have been gathering outside Ferguson Police Department headquarters since the impending decision was announced this afternoon.
Tear gas in Ferguson tonight. Photo by Adrees Latif @reuterspictures http://ti.me/1HDPt3n pic.twitter.com/woinZgUgk5
Following the fatal shooting of Brown on Aug. 9, the predominantly black suburb exploded with protests, demonstrations and even violence for several days, with locals accusing the majority-white police force of a pattern of unnecessary force against black men. The military-style response to the unrest by state and local law enforcement had observers across the country describing the town as a war zone.
Once the decision was announced by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch, the backlash was immediate.
This Little Caesars is fully engulfed in flames. #Ferguson @kmoxnews pic.twitter.com/L0ImAv77WY
Walgreens on fire and people are rushing in before it burns down to loot more goods. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/OrcjYDwA1t
Smashed windows and a smashed cash register a few hundred yards down the street from the police station pic.twitter.com/QPxVlz4NfI
Smashed up cop car pic.twitter.com/1lQxMti4fq
Mike Brown's mom in tears in #Ferguson crowd. pic.twitter.com/pi6fictPBf
"this is what democracy looks like" #ferguson pic.twitter.com/LhnzS7ZVqB
"I join Michael's parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully." -President Obama #Ferguson
@Pervaizistan: A groups allowed to attack a police car for about 30 seconds before officers break it up. #Fergsuon pic.twitter.com/c9F7FGpbYT
ferguson pic.twitter.com/GJekuAGN5q
Protestors with bullhorns are yelling at police behind the barricades at #Ferguson Police Department: pic.twitter.com/lX6ppdlJes
As hundreds gather in downtown Ferguson, chanting "Indict the cop!" and "Fuck the police!", local law enforcement has been cautioned by state and federal lawmakers to restrain themselves. In August, the police and national guard were widely criticized for a militaristic crackdown on protestors and journalists.
Greetings from Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/oWXbBmMjC7
vomit from the tear gas. america yall. #ferguson pic.twitter.com/R7II7o2kd4
Cops move to skirmish line in riot gear. Lots of yelling and running. One woman: "The system failed us again." pic.twitter.com/ma85leIM5w
cop car on fire #ferguson pic.twitter.com/qi6hMDl60p
