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Dozens defy Missouri curfew in riot-hit Ferguson
BBC
Jay Nixon, governor of the US state of Missouri, has imposed the curfew until 05:00 (10:00 GMT).
The move comes after a week of violent clashes between heavily armed local police and protesters.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead on a street in Ferguson on 9 August.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the main road in Ferguson in poor weather conditions hours before the curfew was due to go into force on Saturday evening.
Many left peacefully but others shouted that they would not abide by the curfew.
Police warned the remaining demonstrators that they would be arrested unless they left the area.
They then fired smoke bombs, after which the protesters appeared to leave.
"The curfew is going to make things worse," protester Phonso Scott, 24, told Reuters news agency.
"I think the cops are going to get violent tonight, but they can't lock us all up."
'Find and maintain peace'
Governor Nixon said that although many protesters were making themselves heard peacefully, he would not allow a handful of looters to endanger the community.
"We must first have and maintain peace. This is a test. The eyes of the world are watching," Mr Nixon said. "We cannot allow the ill will of the few to undermine the good will of the many."
Police warned the protesters to disperse before firing smoke bombs
Local business owners have taken to carrying weapons in a bid to protect their stores from looters
Obama: “We Are Supposed to Be Better than That”
A journalist from the Huffington Post and another from The Washington Post were arrested while doing work in a McDonald’s on Wednesday night. “Here in the United States of America, there is no reason police should be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs,” Obama said. He also remarked that “there is never an excuse” for violence against police officers, or “for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests.”
Rep. John Lewis, a civil-rights hero, (LOL) offered perhaps the most striking comments of all, arguing that Obama should declare martial law. “So my own feeling, right now, is that President Obama should use the authority of his office to declare martial law,” Lewis said . “Federalize the Missouri National Guard to protect people as they protest.”
“This is not China or Russia or Syria. This is America, and in this country we have a right to protest in a peaceful, orderly non-violent fashion, and the press should be free to cover these protests without fear,” Lewis said in a separate statement. “If people are not allowed to express their dissatisfaction through peaceful protest, they will find other means to make their voices heard.”
BBC
Jay Nixon, governor of the US state of Missouri, has imposed the curfew until 05:00 (10:00 GMT).
The move comes after a week of violent clashes between heavily armed local police and protesters.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead on a street in Ferguson on 9 August.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the main road in Ferguson in poor weather conditions hours before the curfew was due to go into force on Saturday evening.
Many left peacefully but others shouted that they would not abide by the curfew.
Police warned the remaining demonstrators that they would be arrested unless they left the area.
They then fired smoke bombs, after which the protesters appeared to leave.
"The curfew is going to make things worse," protester Phonso Scott, 24, told Reuters news agency.
"I think the cops are going to get violent tonight, but they can't lock us all up."
'Find and maintain peace'
Governor Nixon said that although many protesters were making themselves heard peacefully, he would not allow a handful of looters to endanger the community.
"We must first have and maintain peace. This is a test. The eyes of the world are watching," Mr Nixon said. "We cannot allow the ill will of the few to undermine the good will of the many."
Police warned the protesters to disperse before firing smoke bombs
Local business owners have taken to carrying weapons in a bid to protect their stores from looters
Obama: “We Are Supposed to Be Better than That”
A journalist from the Huffington Post and another from The Washington Post were arrested while doing work in a McDonald’s on Wednesday night. “Here in the United States of America, there is no reason police should be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs,” Obama said. He also remarked that “there is never an excuse” for violence against police officers, or “for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests.”
Rep. John Lewis, a civil-rights hero, (LOL) offered perhaps the most striking comments of all, arguing that Obama should declare martial law. “So my own feeling, right now, is that President Obama should use the authority of his office to declare martial law,” Lewis said . “Federalize the Missouri National Guard to protect people as they protest.”
“This is not China or Russia or Syria. This is America, and in this country we have a right to protest in a peaceful, orderly non-violent fashion, and the press should be free to cover these protests without fear,” Lewis said in a separate statement. “If people are not allowed to express their dissatisfaction through peaceful protest, they will find other means to make their voices heard.”