Calm returns to Ferguson in US after shooting of black teenager
- 10 years ago
Peaceful protests were held on the streets of Ferguson in Missouri in the United States on Thursday evening.
Just a handful of arrests have been made over the past two nights.
There had previously been days of protests and unrest after an unarmed black teenager was shot dead by a white policeman.
Local people, including members of the clergy, walked in laps around the spot where Michael Brown was killed on August 9.
The state governor who had controversially brought in the National Guard – a military force – to control protests ordered them to start withdrawing on Friday.
Captain Ron Johnson from the Missouri state highway patrol said:“The Governor said that there is going to be a decrease in the size of the National Guard. We should start seeing that tomorrow (Friday.) We will actually look at the operational plan and like I said every night we will make adjustments, to make this community safe and also give this community back to the citizens of Ferguson.”
The US attorney general, Eric Holder, warned that the shooting had brought up old racial tensions.
“In my conversations with dozens of people in Ferguson yesterday, it was clear that this shooting incident has brought to the surface underlying tensions that have existed for many years. There is a history to these tensions and that history simmers in more communities than just Ferguson,” Holder said.
A private autopsy showed that the 18-year-old had been shot at least six times.
Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown has been suspended with pay. The Justice Department says it will conduct a “thorough and fair” investigation.
A funeral for Michael Brown will be held on Monday.
Just a handful of arrests have been made over the past two nights.
There had previously been days of protests and unrest after an unarmed black teenager was shot dead by a white policeman.
Local people, including members of the clergy, walked in laps around the spot where Michael Brown was killed on August 9.
The state governor who had controversially brought in the National Guard – a military force – to control protests ordered them to start withdrawing on Friday.
Captain Ron Johnson from the Missouri state highway patrol said:“The Governor said that there is going to be a decrease in the size of the National Guard. We should start seeing that tomorrow (Friday.) We will actually look at the operational plan and like I said every night we will make adjustments, to make this community safe and also give this community back to the citizens of Ferguson.”
The US attorney general, Eric Holder, warned that the shooting had brought up old racial tensions.
“In my conversations with dozens of people in Ferguson yesterday, it was clear that this shooting incident has brought to the surface underlying tensions that have existed for many years. There is a history to these tensions and that history simmers in more communities than just Ferguson,” Holder said.
A private autopsy showed that the 18-year-old had been shot at least six times.
Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown has been suspended with pay. The Justice Department says it will conduct a “thorough and fair” investigation.
A funeral for Michael Brown will be held on Monday.