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Police Arrest 50 Demonstrators as State of Emergency Declared in Ferguson
Under Moral Monday banner, protesters marking one-year anniversary of Michael Brown's death take part in civil disobedience outside Ferguson courthouse
Aug 10, 2015
At least 50 people were arrested outside the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse in Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday, where they were demanding the dissolution of the Ferguson Police Department.
Meanwhile, despite mostly peaceful protests marred by an officer-involved shooting overnight that left a teenager in critical condition, St. Louis County declared a state of emergency for Ferguson on Monday. Demonstrators are marking the first anniversary of the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown, who white police officer Darren Wilson killed on August 9, 2014.
"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the city of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency effective immediately," County Executive Steve Stenger said in a statement. "The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger."
Under the order, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar immediately took control of policing in Ferguson.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 150 demonstrators gathered at Christ Church Cathedral on Locust early Monday. They then marched to the courthouse, where they chanted, "DOJ, do your job," and read from a petition asking the federal government to disband the Ferguson Police Department. The group, which included members of the clergy and prominent civil rights activists, marched under the banner of 'Moral Monday.'
The Post-Dispatch reports:
Shortly before 1 p.m., about 50 protesters climbed over the barricades that had been set up outside of the courthouse and sat down, locked arms and began singing and chanting.
When that protesters' move did not produce any arrests after about 20 minutes, the seated group rose and rushed toward the front door of the courthouse, and sat down again. Shortly after that, about 30 members of the St. Louis Police Department arrived on the scene and arrests began.
About 2:30 p.m., city police reported that 56 people had been arrested. The arrests appeared to be non-confrontational and no visible physical altercations appeared to have taken place.
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Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
black lives mattercivil rightscornel westdarren wilsondojfederal governmentfergusonmichael brownmissourimoral mondayprotestersstate of emergency
At least 50 people were arrested outside the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse in Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday, where they were demanding the dissolution of the Ferguson Police Department.
Meanwhile, despite mostly peaceful protests marred by an officer-involved shooting overnight that left a teenager in critical condition, St. Louis County declared a state of emergency for Ferguson on Monday. Demonstrators are marking the first anniversary of the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown, who white police officer Darren Wilson killed on August 9, 2014.
"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the city of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency effective immediately," County Executive Steve Stenger said in a statement. "The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger."
Under the order, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar immediately took control of policing in Ferguson.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 150 demonstrators gathered at Christ Church Cathedral on Locust early Monday. They then marched to the courthouse, where they chanted, "DOJ, do your job," and read from a petition asking the federal government to disband the Ferguson Police Department. The group, which included members of the clergy and prominent civil rights activists, marched under the banner of 'Moral Monday.'
The Post-Dispatch reports:
Shortly before 1 p.m., about 50 protesters climbed over the barricades that had been set up outside of the courthouse and sat down, locked arms and began singing and chanting.
When that protesters' move did not produce any arrests after about 20 minutes, the seated group rose and rushed toward the front door of the courthouse, and sat down again. Shortly after that, about 30 members of the St. Louis Police Department arrived on the scene and arrests began.
About 2:30 p.m., city police reported that 56 people had been arrested. The arrests appeared to be non-confrontational and no visible physical altercations appeared to have taken place.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
At least 50 people were arrested outside the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse in Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday, where they were demanding the dissolution of the Ferguson Police Department.
Meanwhile, despite mostly peaceful protests marred by an officer-involved shooting overnight that left a teenager in critical condition, St. Louis County declared a state of emergency for Ferguson on Monday. Demonstrators are marking the first anniversary of the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown, who white police officer Darren Wilson killed on August 9, 2014.
"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the city of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency effective immediately," County Executive Steve Stenger said in a statement. "The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger."
Under the order, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar immediately took control of policing in Ferguson.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 150 demonstrators gathered at Christ Church Cathedral on Locust early Monday. They then marched to the courthouse, where they chanted, "DOJ, do your job," and read from a petition asking the federal government to disband the Ferguson Police Department. The group, which included members of the clergy and prominent civil rights activists, marched under the banner of 'Moral Monday.'
The Post-Dispatch reports:
Shortly before 1 p.m., about 50 protesters climbed over the barricades that had been set up outside of the courthouse and sat down, locked arms and began singing and chanting.
When that protesters' move did not produce any arrests after about 20 minutes, the seated group rose and rushed toward the front door of the courthouse, and sat down again. Shortly after that, about 30 members of the St. Louis Police Department arrived on the scene and arrests began.
About 2:30 p.m., city police reported that 56 people had been arrested. The arrests appeared to be non-confrontational and no visible physical altercations appeared to have taken place.
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