Missouri Gov. Nixon declares state of emergency, enacts curfew in Ferguson
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) declared a state of emergency and a curfew, which will go into effect in Ferguson beginning at midnight and run through 5 a.m. Sunday morning.
The announcement came in response to ongoing protests in the wake of last Saturday's police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.
"If we're going to achieve justice, we must first have and maintain peace," Nixon said. "This is a test. The eyes of the world are watching."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Today's press conference turned heated at times, with community members and journalists raising their questions against ongoing shouts of frustration from others in the audience over the investigation of Brown's death thus far. Ferguson community leaders had used Saturday to get out on the streets and communicate via social media, encouraging demonstrators planning to protest again tonight to refrain from Friday night's looting and violence.
Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who was appointed earlier this week to run security operations, tried to reign in the heckling that accosted most of Nixon's time at the podium.
"What we're doing now is not who we are," he told the crowd. "The frustration in your home is in my home. It's in my home."
Johnson promised the demonstrators a more "hand-in-hand" approach from officials enforcing the curfew tonight, and Nixon added that a press area will be set up, "to make sure transparency is carried out during this process... I can guarantee you Capt. Johnson will make that staging area available so the press can openly and fairly record ... and show the country what's going on."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
-
Trump victorious: 'a political comeback for the ages'
In Depth The president-elect will be able to wield a 'powerful mandate'
By The Week UK Published
-
Saoirse Ronan: how the actress went viral
In the Spotlight The actress dropped a 'chat-icide bomb' on Graham Norton's BBC show
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 9, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published