Widespread protests are happening around the country over the grand jury decision in the Ferguson, MO case of the shooting death of Michael Brown. In Ferguson at this hour, protesters are marching and chanting “no justice! no peace!,” attempting to shut down roads and burning the American flag. Law enforcement presence has tripled in Ferguson tonight and the National Guard has been called in. Thousands of officers are patrolling the streets. A state of emergency remains in effect.
In New York, protesters shut down the Lincoln Tunnel, the Queens Midtown Tunnel and FDR drive causing massive traffic delays. CBS reports that five people were arrested when they refused to follow police commands. Some protesters attempted to shut down the Williamsburg bridge but were thwarted by police.
In Minneapolis, protesters blocking the street probably did not anticipate that a car would plow into the crowd. A woman who had been lying down in the street in protest was run over after the driver honked but the woman refused to move. She is in stable condition at the hospital.
Washington protesters rallied in front of the police station while protesters in Atlanta demonstrated in front of the CNN building. St. Louis demonstrators also blocked numerous major roadways as did protesters in Nashville. Dozens of cities around the country are experiencing widespread protests over the Ferguson decision.
Last night, many community businesses in Ferguson were burned to the ground and over 60 people were arrested due to looting and rioting. Police used tear gas, smoke and rubber bullets to try to control the crowd. One woman was reported to have had a cardiac event after being sprayed with tear gas. So far tonight, there has been no rioting in the town and those who are protesting have remained calm.
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the St. Louis Thanksgiving day parade has been postponed until an undecided later date due to the protests. Outside the Ferguson police department, the scene was calm with law enforcement personnel in riot gear observing the crowd and people chanting “hands up, don’t shoot!” Military vehicles rolled through the streets, keeping them clear. While the scene was generally quiet, one citizen live streamer on the scene reported that he witnessed four arrests so far this evening.
