UPDATED 10:02 a.m. ET: Protesters arrested in Ferguson, who claimed they were wrongly detained, were released Friday evening, according to local television station KMOV. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said Friday said their department would oversee security in Ferguson after concerns over Thursday's arrests.
A protester in Ferguson, Missouri, who was apparently arrested along with 12 others last night, has been documenting the entire experience on her Twitter feed.
Starting with the tweet, "We are all arrested," about 17 hours ago, Twitter user @bdoulablongata describes being detained for violating a "noise ordinance" with a bail set at $2,300. According to the tweets, officers told the group their bail would be doubled if they had been arrested previously.
The Twitter user, also known as Brittany on her profile, included images of the four men and eight women she was arrested with wearing orange jumpsuits and created the hashtag #freeferguson13. They appeared to be part of an advocacy group called Millennial Activists.
A spokesperson for St. Louis County Police Department confirmed that Ferguson Police Department made the arrests. Ferguson police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tensions between police officers and demonstrators have remained high since Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in early August. Last week, Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson publicly apologized for the incident six weeks after Brown's death amidst protests demanding his resignation.
On Tuesday, a fire destroyed a makeshift memorial for Brown under unknown circumstances, triggering new levels of unrest. A Ferguson police officer was fired upon and shot in the arm by two unidentified men over the weekend, though that incident was not connected with the protests.
Around 6 p.m. local time, reports were beginning to surface on Twitter that the activists had been freed.
We are all arrested— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
Tweeting while cuffed— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
All MAU women are arrested— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
We were arrested while on the side walk by the way— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
LOL. shit is crazy.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
They arrested about 12 of us— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
Again, Violation of rights, people. #Ferguson— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
They are doubling the bail if this is your second arrest— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
we are still sitting here in the back of the wagon. 8 of us in this one. Too many of us. Not sure where they are sending us.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
we are still sitting here in the back of the wagon. 8 of us in this one. Too many of us. Not sure where they are sending us.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
They may have arrested more than 12 of us— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
They said we violated the "noise" ordinance" it's been 50+ days... NOW they effort a noise ordinance. Bullshit.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
We gone always fight back. Let's get free. #Ferguson— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
Chanting while riding & cuffed "no justice, no peace!" They think it's a game.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
The WHOLE damn system is guilty as hell.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
we are almost at our destination. my followers report that jail support is on the way.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
Okay y'all, right now clergy is communication with us what they know on the outside.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
We're still locked up in Orange jumpsuits like criminals though. They set my bail at $2300. As well as Alexis and Ash— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
it is our duty to fight. it is our duty to win. we must love and support each other. we have nothing to lose but our chains.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
we'll be out before the night is over. the system is working hard as hell to keep us down. they won't win.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
When they put @brownblaze in her jumpsuit she asked why, St. Ann told her to ask #Ferguson.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
no one can give us clear answers on anything though. aside from the fact that we will be out and that people are working on it now.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
again, all 13 of us are still in jail. I'm tweeting, yes, I have the opportunity to do so. Spread the word that we are going to be ok.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
Four men. pic.twitter.com/10s4CY1r7q— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
The rest are us women. pic.twitter.com/1DL2jG2n6T— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
angry. angry as hell. let's get free.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
#FreeFerguson13— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
make it a trend y'all #FreeFerguson13we LOVE y'all.— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
we gotta go now. headed by to the cell shortly. we'll be out soon. #FreeFerguson13— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014
Thankful for the love and support. Know that we will continue to fight for our rights, our dignity, and our freedom. We got us. #Ferguson— brittany. (@bdoulaoblongata) October 3, 2014