Ferguson, Missouri was once again a site of violence and mayhem. Monday evening was the first time in three days that the town of Ferguson had been released from it’s state imposed curfew that existed between midnight to 5 AM. The mood ranged from frustration to thankfulness, as CNN reporter Jake Tapper and State Police Captain Ron Johnson both took to the mic before it was said and done.
The Inquisitr summarized a few hours ago how the evening unfolded.
Violent overnight protests in the Michael Brown shooting Monday night ended with two people shot. According to police accounts and NBC News footage, authorities sent several rounds of teargas into a crowd to disperse them. “
Earlier Monday evening, when reporting in Ferguson about the protests, Jake Tapper went off about the police presence and response in the Ferguson.
“These are armed police, with — not machine guns — semi-automatic rifles, with batons, with shields, many of them dressed for combat. Now why they’re doing this? I don’t know. Because there is no threat going on here. None that merits this. There is none, okay?”
“So if people wonder why the people of Ferguson, Missouri are so upset, this is part of the reason. What is this?”
The video of Jake Tapper can be seen below:
Mr. Tapper echoes some of the sentiment, regarding the “militarization” of the police America, that has been growing throughout the country. Senator Rand Paul first wrote about this issue in his Time Magazine Op-ed, and President Obama relayed a similar sentiment in the following days.
Gunfire, bottles lobbed at police, and crowds constantly dispersed by tear gas were all part of the scene in Ferguson, early Tuesday morning. Despite starting out as a relatively peaceful protests, reports indicate, 31 people were arrested when all was said and done in Ferguson.
Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson has been in command of the security since the Governor took over control of the escalating protests last Thursday, As reported by The Inquisitr.
In what would probably be the third press conference in Ferguson from Captain Ron Johnson., Johnson he delved into a play by play of the evening and early morning hour’s events. The captain seemed confident on Tuesday morning being a turning point.
I want to begin by thanking the brave men and women of law enforcement who tonight took another strong step forward in restoring order to the city of Ferguson. Throughout the night, these officers reacted with restraint and calm, despite pockets of disorder and coming under violent attacks, on several occasions.”
As KMOV out of St.Louis reported, Johnson described the protestors as “peaceful” as they “shook hands with officers” and expressed their opinions. Captain Johnson described the events in the early part of the evening as “Freedom of expression” that they(officers) were “committed to protecting”.
Captain Johnson described how there were “numerous reports” of shots fired, and two fires that included an “unoccupied” residence and a unnamed business.
Mr. Johnson addressed a few other issues including: treatment of the media and the violent agitators causing all the mischief. He described the violence perpetrated as an “act of criminals”.
These criminal acts came from a tiny minority of law-breakers, but anyone who has been at these protests understands that there is a dangerous dynamic in the night. These are not acts of protesters, but acts of violent criminals.”
“Once again, not a single bullet fired by officers, despite coming under HEAVY attack.”
Though the curfew was over, and showed no signs of returning, Captain Johnson urged protestors to come out during the day only.
Because of the dangers posed tonight, I want to encourage the GOOD people of this area to come out and protest tomorrow, during the DAYTIME hours. Make your voices heard, when you can be seen, and we are not the COVER for violent agitators. “
Johnson made a few comments related to the treatment of the media, when asked and in his opening statement.
We may take some of you into custody, but when we DO take you into custody and we have found out that you’re a journalist, we have taken the proper action.”
“But in the midst of it we cannot — in the midst of it, and in the midst of chaos, and trying to move people on — we HAVE to be safe. And we are providing protection for journalists — we had a journalist who was trapped in the midst of that gunfire, in the midst of that chaos, and we’re providing protection for them.”
Captain Johnson concluded the press conference with words that became heavy and emotional. The captain’s words brought him near to tears.
But I’m going to tell you, this nation is watching each and every one of us. This nation is watching law enforcement, this nation is watching our media, and I’m gonna tell you, if we’re going to solve this, we’re gonna have to do it TOGETHER — we’re gonna HAVE to do it together — and I want YOU to think about that tonight. We’re going to HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER.”
“And I am NOT going to let the CRIMINALS that have come out here from across this country or live in this community, define this neighborhood and define what we’re going to do to make it right.”
This was transcribed by blogger Lincoln Madison and can be found on his blog.
[ Images Via KMOV And How 2 Be Coo l ]