VIOLENCE IN AMERICA - Ferguson, Again

"How peaceful Ferguson anniversary protests turned violent" PBS NewsHour 8/10/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Police critically wounded an 18-year-old black man overnight in Ferguson, Missouri, where mostly peaceful protests marked the anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown.  Authorities say Tyrone Harris Jr. and others shot at officers, who in turn shot back, wounding Harris.  Judy Woodruff learns more from Yamiche Alcindor of USA Today.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Authorities in Saint Louis County, Missouri, imposed a new state of emergency today after police critically wounded an 18-year-old black man overnight.

It happened at the end of protests in the town of Ferguson marking the death of Michael Brown one year ago.  Police said a late-night demonstration got rowdy, and Tyrone Harris Jr. and others opened fire on them.  They said officers shot back, wounding Harris.

The incident drew the attention of U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who was at a police convention today in Pittsburgh.

LORETTA LYNCH, Attorney General:  I strongly condemn the violence that was perpetrated against the community, including the police officers, in Ferguson last evening.  Not only does violence obscure any message of peaceful protest.  It places the community as well as the officers who are seeking to protect it in harm’s way.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  There were new protests around Ferguson and Saint Louis today.  Some 100 people rallied at the county courthouse.  Nearly 60 were arrested.

I spoke a short time ago with reporter Yamiche Alcindor, who’s covering the story for USA Today.

Yamiche, welcome.

What is the situation right now?

YAMICHE ALCINDOR, USA Today:  Well, moments ago, several protesters were arrested outside a federal courthouse building.

And some of them are really people that are really prominent protesters, along with Cornel West.  So, right now, they’re being processed at that federal courthouse and they’re actually facing federal charges.  But it’s going to be really a $125 fine.  They wouldn’t really say whether or not it’s a misdemeanor or a felony, but of course it’s a $125 fine.

So, it’s not — it’s still a summons.  It’s not going to be anything too serious, but this is still part of the Moral Monday that people had here today, where it was really a series of civil disobediences that they wanted to have in coordination and really in memory of Michael Brown.