There's a new sheriff in town. pic.twitter.com/nDy81apYuN
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
After broad condemnation for heavy-handed, violent response to mostly peaceful protests–including President Obama–authorities in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson have changed their approach to protests. The demonstrations are in response to the police killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen who was shot dead by an officer five days ago. Below, tweets from people to follow today, for a sense of how things feel on the ground. Our coverage archives are here. In related updates, attorney General Eric Holder today spoke with Brown’s mother and father.
#Ferguson large crowd marched to area on Canfield where #MikeBrown was shot pic.twitter.com/VwS290Sqzc
— David Carson (@PDPJ) August 14, 2014
Highway patrol captain Ron Johnson is leading protesters on a march through Ferguson. A corner turned? pic.twitter.com/ewytjhz2uP
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 14, 2014
Something is different here…oh! No barrier, no swat, no armored trucks, no snipers (!!) #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/MjDIuboX4m
— Danny Wicentowski (@D_Towski) August 14, 2014
immediate change in police tone (march is still early) now that highway patrol overseeing things #ferguson
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 14, 2014
So we won't see large police presence tonight? *Cpt. Johnson looks around* https://t.co/6cXxWgnLL5
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
Here is your new police leader, MHP Capt. Johnson, who was hugging and shaking hands with protesters as they passed. pic.twitter.com/PyaDkLleI9
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 14, 2014
A guy told Capt. Johnson his niece got teargassed: "What would you say to her?"
"Tell her Capt. Johnson is sorry and he apologizes."
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 14, 2014
New chopper in police staging area today. But fewer BearCats, it seems. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/9Asdcq0GZu
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014
Johnson says they are going to provide media staging areas. This is night and day from every other night this week. Night and day #ferguson
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
Here's the police presence for the march. No armor, no rifles. Mellow. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/cl5ttel6tr
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 14, 2014
Capt Johnson: "When I see a young lady cry b/c of fear of this uniform then that is a problem” http://t.co/Iw9nEznP9l pic.twitter.com/F3Vm3mFsRV
— Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) August 14, 2014
Full view of huge crowd gathered for peaceful demonstration around the site of Mike Brown's death pic.twitter.com/AqaabykHp9
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 14, 2014
"All police assigned to this detail will not be wearing gas masks" – Ron Johnson pic.twitter.com/zZ9JonVuNR
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 14, 2014
"Thank you so much for coming out here tonight," woman says to Johnson, almost in tears pic.twitter.com/Q6kS96bCM4
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
Johnson: will not tolerating looting, also won't tolerate "citizens not having ability to speak their minds, having…rights violated"
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
By Quiktrip now. Looks like yesterday's police has been replaced by journalists… #Ferguson @vicenews pic.twitter.com/exgcyX3cXb
— Alice Speri (@alicesperi) August 14, 2014
Sign spotted in Canfield Garden – "God will punish Mike's killer, even if we never know his name."
— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) August 14, 2014
Johnson says they are going to provide media staging areas. This is night and day from every other night this week. Night and day #ferguson
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
Young protestors across from the #Ferguson Police Department pic.twitter.com/QTFfiLO19S
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014
#MikeBrownmarch hundreds in line with signs chanting in#ferguson #kmov pic.twitter.com/vXydq7jab6
— Julian Johnson (@JJohnsonKMOV) August 14, 2014
.@GovJayNixon #Ferguson @vicenews pic.twitter.com/FlSAP3Rc7f
— Alice Speri (@alicesperi) August 14, 2014
Hundreds peacefully protesting. Leader says about police: "they respect us, let's respect them." #ferguson https://t.co/t032gQaNBy
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014
I've been here since Monday afternoon. At no point have officers mixed/mingled/chatted with protesters – until tonight.
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014