The chaos in Ferguson, Mo., is not over. The riot has been happening for four nights now. More than 350 protesters gathered last Wednesday protesting against what happened to 18-year old Michael Brown after a struggle with police.
The situation isn't getting any better as demonstrators continue to show their outrage. The protesters said they would only keep coming back until justice is served.
Rocks are hurled at the police and petrol bombs are being thrown everywhere. The police were well-prepared, completely deployed in camouflage and body armor. To disperse the protesters, they fired smoke bombs, stun grenades, and tear gas.
The police arrested 10 people Wednesday evening. Since the incident last Saturday, 40 people have already been arrested.
Early Saturday, police officers in armored trucks trooped to the area while residents tried to surround businesses to protect them from looters.
The President Obama already knows about the situation and he has requested for a peaceful response. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett briefed Obama about the case last Wednesday.
Jay Nixon, governor of Missouri, posted on Twitter that he would visit the area on Thursday. He also requested that "law enforcement to respect rights of residents and press."
"Situation in Ferguson does not represent who we are. Must keep the peace, while safeguarding rights of citizens and the press," Gov. Nixon wrote.
The police have not released much information yet. What is known so far is that Michael Brown and an unnamed police officer had an altercation. However, a witness named Dorian Johnson said Brown put his hands in the air. This means he was not struggling with the officer and the police fired into the victim's chest and head several times.
Another witness named Tiffany Mitchel said the officer and Brown were "tussling through the window" and a "shot was fired through the window" as the teen was trying to get away.
"The kid, he finally gets away and he starts running. As he runs, the police get out of his vehicle and he follows behind him shooting," Mitchell said.
Mitchell added that Michael Brown turned around to raise his hands but the police continued to fire.
The town of Ferguson's 21,000-population consists two-thirds of black people. The police chief of Ferguson said his priority is to improve race relations in the city because there are more blacks now.
