After a shooting marred an otherwise peaceful Sunday of demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri to mark the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown's death, police and protesters engaged in a tense stand-off with small clashes Monday night.
As dusk descended on Ferguson on Monday evening, protesters and police assembled again along West Florissant Street, the site of Sunday night's shooting and much of the unrest last year following Brown's death. Early on, the gathering was peaceful, with protesters walking and chanting while authorities tried to keep marchers out of the street.
Right now on W. Florissant #ferguson pic.twitter.com/8JUzlnifbg— Amanda M. Sakuma (@iamsakuma) August 11, 2015
#Ferguson crowd passion grows begins March on west Florissant shoulder. #MoralMonday pic.twitter.com/jXQ4hmyNaI— Jadan Horyn (@JadanHoryn) August 11, 2015
West Florissant #ferguson pic.twitter.com/4foCAjcNSy— Walker Moskop (@WalkerMoskop) August 11, 2015
Tonight on West Florissant About a hundred protestors face off with police #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/bVoNwI4C3s— Stefanie Cargill (@cybergrrl) August 11, 2015
Later, though, there were moments of tension as the group of protesters attempted to move into the street and were met by police. Pepper spray was used and a handful of arrests were made. Police reported on Twitter objects were being thrown at officers by protesters.
Takedowns and arrests in Ferguson Monday https://t.co/UExlhs8b5u— Ben Kesling (@bkesling) August 11, 2015
St Louis County PD surged at protesters from East side of W Florissant Ave, driving them into McDonalds lot. Arrested several. #Ferguson— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 11, 2015
Tonight in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/ODKHdcNADr— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 11, 2015
Unruly crowd is throwing frozen water bottles at officers. Those who choose to act violently will be arrested.— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) August 11, 2015
Following the confrontation, police formed a line down West Florissant Street while the protesters retreated back to the sidewalk.
Middle of West Flor. Cops ordering people off roadway. #WorldWatchesFerguson pic.twitter.com/vffgVg0q1x— Stephen Deere (@stephencdeere) August 11, 2015
Police lining middle of West Florissant St in #ferguson, via @Rebelutionary_Z live stream. pic.twitter.com/9SRU2dWYEW— Mashable News (@MashableNews) August 11, 2015
Officer on loudspeaker in Ferguson: "This is the St. Louis County police. Get off the roadway." pic.twitter.com/2Ep0rkM19q— Mitch Smith (@MitchKSmith) August 11, 2015
There were reports of multiple arrests with authorities reporting at least nine people arrested. Following the brief confrontation, police continued to tell protesters to stay out of the street as traffic began to slowly flow again down West Florissant St.
Six + arrested so far including one person detained who people are saying may be a middle school girl.— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) August 11, 2015
.@stlcountypd arrest people in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/Gd6MSo7GJi— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 11, 2015
Chief Belmar spoke with protest leaders in an attempt to deescalate the situation. Protesters have moved to sidewalks.— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) August 11, 2015
During the conflict, St. Louis Post-Dispatch photographer Robert Cohen, who was a victim of pepper spray, happened to capture the moment of his own spraying.
Here's what it looked like from my end in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/sxsvDGJsQb— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 11, 2015
"Run Donald Trump! Run!" -- guy on West Florissant in #Ferguson right now (CC: @realDonaldTrump) pic.twitter.com/mxuZ6mTfDW— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 11, 2015
Then, just before midnight, local time, police moved in on a group of people standing outside a hair salon and began arresting individuals. Reports from the scene say the police searched a car outside the business for weapons. Following the new round of arrests, protesters responded with anger, with some hurling water bottles and rocks at law enforcement.
Car being searched. Several more arrested pic.twitter.com/dEkqlcQpJg— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) August 11, 2015
Police just charged at protesters and snatched several men. @stlcountypd officer alleges "they had weapons". Ferguson pic.twitter.com/BcSbKNfLKf— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 11, 2015
West Florissant concussion arrests pic.twitter.com/oE5TELivhH— David Carson (@PDPJ) August 11, 2015
Police, protesters and people who live and work in the St. Louis suburb were bracing for what nightfall might bring following more violence along West Florissant Avenue, the same thoroughfare that was the site of massive protests and rioting after Brown was fatally shot last year in a confrontation with a white Ferguson officer.
"It changes the equation," said Rebecca Ragland, an Episcopal priest who was part of a group that marched to the federal courthouse in St. Louis. "The way the police will respond now will be much more militaristic. It legitimizes a response from the police that's a lot more aggressive."
"We are just here for a peaceful protest... Unless police come and agitate the situation again." #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/7N48RtqozX— Weijia Jiang (@WeijiaJiangTV) August 11, 2015
There were a handful of demonstrations of civil disobedience in the greater St. Louis area during the day Monday, referred to as "#MoralMonday" on social media. Most notably, several activists - including Cornel West, Deray Mckesson, and Johnetta Elzie - were arrested during a peaceful demonstration at the federal courthouse in St. Louis. The activists were later released.
Both @CornelWest and @deray are no longer in federal custody. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/k19dM4dlYv— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 10, 2015
In another demonstration, a group flew a balloon-lofted banner near the St. Louis Arch that read "Racism still lives here."
Protesters flying banner in St. Louis that says “Racism still lives here! #fightback” pic.twitter.com/X2PU0KNHvr— Mashable News (@MashableNews) August 10, 2015
Protesters also blocked traffic on Interstate 70 in St. Louis. Some drivers refused to be curtailed by the demonstration and came perilously close to hitting protesters on the highway. The St. Louis Dispatch reported a handful of other traffic blockages by demonstrators, though none as large as the one on I-70. According to a press release from authorities, around 60 people were arrested as part of the highway blockage.
Motorist plowed through demonstrators #Ferguson http://t.co/jFZ1Hycv4X pic.twitter.com/wWY1HLvSqB— Sputnik US (@SputnikNewsUS) August 10, 2015
Driver breaks through line of protesters on I-70 in #STL - #Ferguson #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/g2OgtaI631— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 10, 2015
Earlier Monday, a state of emergency was declared for St. Louis County, giving more leadership control to county police.
. @StengerSTLCo has issued a State of Emergency in STL County: pic.twitter.com/XoUQZyWbWe— Jason Rosenbaum (@jrosenbaum) August 10, 2015
@SaintLouCo Execuive Steve Stenger has not ruled out imposing a .#Ferguson curfew. "It's a consideration."— stevegiegerich (@stevegiegerich) August 10, 2015
Additional reporting by the Associated Press