I counted 70+ SWAT officers. Guns trained on crowds. Insanity. pic.twitter.com/stev2G6v4b
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Demonstrators in Ferguson, Missouri held protests today in the St. Louis suburb where a police officer recently shot an unarmed young black man, killing him and sparking outrage in this mostly black community.
The protests were peaceful for many hours, and turned chaotic when police shot rubber bullets, tear gas (or another form of noxious gas), used an LRAD sonic weapon to blast the crowd with painful sound, and assaulted protesters.
From the Los Angeles Times:
"Hands up! Don't shoot!" demonstrators chanted as they walked down West Florissant Avenue in a permitted march. Some young men at the back of the group raised their middle fingers as they passed a Ferguson Police Department officer, shouting profanities at him.
About 30 demonstrators, who were almost all black, sat down in the middle of an intersection near a line of about a dozen riot police, who were all white.
Huffington Post reporter Ryan J. Reilly
and Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery were arrested. They were among reporters live-tweeting events in Ferguson this afternoon, and ducked into a McDonalds to recharge their smartphones and other devices. Subsequent tweets indicated they were taken into police custody. Lowery confirms: "Was arrested. Also Ryan Reilly of Huff Po. Assaulted and arrested. Officers decided we weren't leaving McDonalds quickly enough, shouldn't have been taping them." Both journalists have been released, possibly thanks to a phone call from Matt Pearce of the LA Times to the Ferguson police chief, asking why the men were being held.
"Ferguson chief tells me Lowery and Reilly's arresters were 'probably somebody who didn't know better," tweeted Pearce. Here is video of the arrest.
In a matter of seconds police set off tear gas declares this is no longer a peaceful protest pic.twitter.com/sCuy3PXHCg
— Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 14, 2014
Gas cans and crackers being lobbed into people's front gardens pic.twitter.com/tvEkVZoGtE
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 14, 2014
This was unnerving. pic.twitter.com/PzVkq8vUj6
— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) August 13, 2014
Two reporters just cuffed and put in cop can outside Ferguson McDonald's where @WesleyLowery said he and @ryanjreilly were working
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 13, 2014
Tried to get closer to confirm identities of reporters being arrested. Was marched at by cops in riot gear and threatened with arrest
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 14, 2014
The #STL SWAT team has weapons drawn in #Ferguson at a protest in broad daylight with media attending pic.twitter.com/z6zIVuCM6D
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 13, 2014
Overkill in #Ferguson. Officer won't answer my question about why this is needed. pic.twitter.com/iSPsP1Rxa1
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
"Is that a tank?!?" As older black woman asks as cops move in #Ferguson
— Elon James White (@elonjames) August 13, 2014
Chants of "Hands up, Don't Shoot!" At march and rally not far from scene of Michael Brown killing. pic.twitter.com/zi9aC39ys6
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) August 13, 2014
Police loudspeaker: "Your right to assembly is not being denied."
— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) August 13, 2014
"Your right to demonstrate is not being denied." Says dude in a Tank with snipers. #Ferguson
— Elon James White (@elonjames) August 13, 2014
Police have moved tank and repositioned to face protesters on sidewalk across the street. #ferguson pic.twitter.com/JRGhIErZAb
— Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 13, 2014
Police just arrested a man on crutches. Another woman.
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) August 13, 2014
Crowd near site of shooting chants "hands up, don't shoot." #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/QjRW4Zqa0n
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
This isn't a war yet police are armed a and approaching like we're in Iraq. #Ferguson
— Elon James White (@elonjames) August 13, 2014
Police demanding over bull horn that people disperse immediately pic.twitter.com/NSOwyc2jaI
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) August 13, 2014
SWAT overlooks protestors in #Ferguson. They've all moved to sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/peY5cOVBZl
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) August 13, 2014
Scene right now just blocks from where #mikebrown was shot. #ferguson pic.twitter.com/gCBXsY0CvN
— Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 13, 2014
"This is not open for discussion." — cop on loudspeaker, telling crowd to leave the area pic.twitter.com/KYaNaFbvzw
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Current situation in #ferguson pic.twitter.com/plUngrLNQY
— Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 13, 2014
A massive SWAT team just showed up to peaceful demonstration in #ferguson https://t.co/5nudRUA7vS
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Right now in Ferguson https://t.co/SHJoIPv4wv
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Every time I see a 21st-century SWAT team, I think: This is what it looks like when you want perfect control.
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 13, 2014
End police brutality sign at #mikebrown memorial in #ferguson pic.twitter.com/WH4Olf3W2v
— Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 13, 2014
Standing in the street. Arms up. pic.twitter.com/CiacFTbFP1
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 13, 2014
Military-style police in overwhelming show of force: 3 APCs, ~100 officers, high-powered rifles #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/joc9ZnPuqM
— Sebastian Walker (@sebwalker) August 13, 2014
Children chat: "Justice for Mike Brown!" https://t.co/HejVixnnMk
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 13, 2014
Snipers rifles aimed at unarmed American citizens right now in St. Louis, MO. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/us4dcQ8CxC
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 13, 2014
Photographer unknown, image making the social media rounds—said to be of kids at protest in #Ferguson today. pic.twitter.com/LXvHXrltIc
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) August 14, 2014
A few feet from where #MichaelBrown was killed: #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/BpMH784CFR
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 13, 2014
#Ferguson picture from earlier in the day, high powered rifles trained on protesters pic.twitter.com/OYOur3ZCrA
— David Carson (@PDPJ) August 13, 2014
Powerful picture we took today at Howard University #Ferguson #MikeBrown #MyaWhite #DONTSHOOT pic.twitter.com/ttdVg33n5w
— Megan Sims (@The_Blackness48) August 14, 2014
These women offer a place where Ferguson youth could come & scream & cry & be held & heard in love. Mighty work. pic.twitter.com/WrVSbR6Ui0
— dream hampton (@dreamhampton) August 13, 2014
Sen. Chappelle-Nadal got teargassed with constituents Monday night, says police response was so extreme she worried "we were going to die."
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 13, 2014
Here is gas fired moments ago: pic.twitter.com/y5CJlEHcJw
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 14, 2014
Police toss customers from McDonald's, close business before sundown in Ferguson. #MikeBrown #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/FHM4lqdYSs
— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 14, 2014