Via @KhaledBeydoun/Twitter
A Ferguson, Mo., police K-9 unit confronts demonstrators Sunday night during protests over the shooting by police of an unarmed teen.
Violent protests and looting erupted Sunday night in a St. Louis suburb following a candlelight vigil honoring an unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed Saturday by a police officer.
Hundreds of protestors, some chanting "No justice, no peace," were met by police in riot gear with shields and rifles, and K-9 units, Sunday night following a vigil for Brown, The New York Times reports. The demonstrations turned violent overnight as protestors damaged police cars and looted stores.
Brown's family pleaded with protestors for an end to the violence and looting, saying it is not what the teen would have wanted.
According to police, 18-year-old Michael Brown attacked a police officer and was fatally shot Saturday as the two wrestled for the officer's gun. The statement was met by skepticism and anger in Ferguson, Mo., a largely black community.
A Justice Department spokesperson in Washington said Attorney General Eric Holder has asked attorneys with the Civil Rights Division to monitor events in Ferguson.
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I do not condone the rioting and looting, but it looks as if many of the comments on this thread come from people who don’t understand this to be from 1) a community that is actually frustrated by generations of this kind of thing happening without improvement; 2) are likely not old enough to remember similar events that led to President Lyndon Johnson forming a national commission to look into the experience of communities that would inspire this kind of rioting; 3) never read in their history or college sociology classes, or law enforcement classes about these commission hearings and the analysis and recommendations.
And further, I would recommend that you stop and ask yourselves why anyone would actually ‘respect’ the property of others, when the lives of a community’s children are not respected. I don’t condone the looting, but it says that there’s a level of disrespect going on throughout the community on both sides and instead of judging, folks might want to put on their analytical thinking caps… you will not be able to solve the problems of crime and violence if you don’t try to understand the many elements that feed into them.
Although, this was a tragic and horrific event that occurred to teenager, Michael Brown, violence and rioting is never the answer, nor the solution. Sometimes, hype in the media and social networking can intensify these actions, which makes the situation for law enforcement difficult to handle. The frustration of the community is understandable, but not in a way to cause damage and continued uproar. Protest in the community, and the “outcry” for justice is welcomed, and can be done in such a manner that is peaceful.
This isn’t a cry for ‘justice, it’s a way to get free flat screens and stolen booze.
If the cops had cracked down instead of standing idly by while ‘protesters’ looted local businesses, they wouldn’t have had this riot happen the very next day.
That’s not a Ferguson K9…its a St. Louis County Police. At least report accurately.
i can understand the pain and frustation over this child dead,however i can’t see the reason for breaking and vandalisation of other property, and the looting.
that speaks very poorly of a cry for justice.
Then I suspect you do not understand the breadth and depth of the frustration, Ms. Russell.