FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — National Guard units with armored vehicles are lined up tonight at a staging area about a half-mile from the scene of the largest protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old by police.
Earlier today, Gov. Jay Nixon lifted the neighborhood’s midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew. He had summoned the National Guard overnight after police again used tear gas to quell protesters.
Nixon said the National Guard troops would be under the direction of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is overseeing security during protests.
Closer to the protest site, a crowd of demonstrators formed and is growing in size tonight. Sheriff’s deputies in body armor and state troopers carrying wooden bats and gas masks stood watch over the group.
Police told protesters that they could not assemble in a single spot, saying they had to keep moving. In federal court, a judge denied a request from the American Civil Liberties Union for a restraining order that would have prevented authorities from enforcing the rule. And police said that two men were arrested for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.
A grand jury could begin hearing evidence Wednesday to determine whether the white officer involved in the shooting of Michael Brown, who was black, should be charged.
%@AP Links
176-a-07-(Captain Ron Johnson, commander, Missouri Highway Patrol, at news conference)-“of this community”-Captain Ron Johnson says peaceful protests are allowed, but troublemakers will not be tolerated. (18 Aug 2014)
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177-a-12-(Captain Ron Johnson, commander, Missouri Highway Patrol, at news conference)-“to insure that”-Captain Ron Johnson says those who want to protest in Ferguson can do so peacefully. (18 Aug 2014)
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186-a-16-(President Barack Obama, with reporters)-“and stir chaos”-President Obama says Ferguson needs to unite and protest peacefully. (18 Aug 2014)
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221-a-17-(Yah Ammi, protester, in AP interview)-“harassing black people”-Protester Yah Ammi says the police are creating a confrontation with people who want to march in Ferguson. ((note length of cut)) (18 Aug 2014)
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223-a-13-(Protester who declined to give his name, in AP interview)-“leaving it there”-This protester in Ferguson, Missouri who declined to give his name, says he’s wearing a protective mask in case police use tear gas tonight. (18 Aug 2014)
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220-r-06-(Sound of protesters, marching and chanting “What to we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!”)–Sound of protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, marching and chanting “What to we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!” (18 Aug 2014)
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222-r-06-(Sound of protesters, chanting “United we stand, divided we fall”)–Sound of protesters in Ferguson chanting “United we stand, divided we fall.” (18 Aug 2014)
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224-r-11-(Sound of police announcement over loudspeaker, addressing protesters in Ferguson, Mo.)–Sound of police announcement over loudspeaker addressing protesters in Ferguson, Missouri. (18 Aug 2014)
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APPHOTO MOCR108: Police watch from the parking lot of a burned-out gas station Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, as people protest the police shooting of Michael Brown Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon called in the National Guard Monday after police again used tear gas to quell protesters in the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (18 Aug 2014)
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APPHOTO CAMS103: A man holds up a sign during a demonstration in protest of the shooting of Michael Brown on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, in San Francisco. The Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown by police has touched off protests in Ferguson, Mo. and other parts of the country. Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard to help restore order Monday, while lifting a midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew that had been in place for two days. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (18 Aug 2014)
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