Conditions in the tumultuous town of Ferguson, Missouri, appear to have improved dramatically on Thursday, after Gov. Jay Nixon (D) took the public step of transferring control of the situation from local police. The St. Louis County Police had been involved in sometimes-violent confrontations with local residents since the shooting last weekend of African-American teenager Michael Brown.
Nixon gave command of the situation to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the response is being led by Capt. Ronald Johnson. On Thursday, local residents again participated in a march — with Johnson leading the police as participants alongside the marchers themselves. "Johnson marched in shirtsleeves — a stark contrast with the paramilitary uniforms that have become the symbol of the Ferguson police presence during nearly a week of unrest," note Paul Hampel and Koran Addo at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Johnson also spoke with the press on the scene — a big change from the previous night's arrests of two reporters — to assure journalists that he had a "big dog in this fight": He grew up in the area. "I occasionally go to Red's Barbeque," he said. "And I've had a few beers in this town, too."
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.
-
Sudan stands on the brink of another national schismThe Explainer With tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, one of Africa’s most severe outbreaks of sectarian violence is poised to take a dramatic turn for the worse
-
‘Not every social scourge is an act of war’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The Louvre’s security measures are in hot water after a major heistIn the Spotlight Millions of dollars in jewels were stolen from the museum
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
