Ferguson on edge as doubts raised over Darren Wilson indictment

The Los Angeles Wave ^ | October 24, 2014 | Sara Sidner and Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN

[2ndDivisionVet]

FERGUSON, Missouri — There is never a day where at least one person isn't outside the Ferguson, Missouri, Police Department sitting or standing near an anemic tree, the only place for a bit of shade.

At night, the crowd tends to swell, and the protest grows more intense.

There are almost always two or three people streaming events live. You can hear them loudly sharing thoughts or giving a play-by-play of what's happening.

While their cameras capture live images, they call out what they think are injustices surrounding the August shooting of Michael Brown and the subsequent police crackdown on protesters in the 10 weeks or so since Brown was killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.

The police are geared up with cameras as well. They wear body cameras, and any time officers approach protesters there is usually at least one officer with a handheld camera, too.

It's a careful dance in which protesters and police are trying to make sure they have proof if a law is broken or someone's civil rights are violated.

Both outside the police department, and roughly 2 miles east — along the main protest route, where most of the imagery of the sometimes-violent protests has originated — tension can go from zero to 100 in seconds on any given night.

Police can tally dozens of arrests a night since the city erupted. Among those placed in cuffs were journalists, clergy, a local rapper, a state senator, a St. Louis alderman and activist/intellectual Cornel West.

It's tough to predict the mood each night. On Tuesday, a small group of about 50 protesters caused no disturbances, and there were no arrests, police said. The next night, five police officers were assaulted with rocks, water bottles and a metal rod....

[Nervous Tick]

>> I’d do it for a community that supports and appreciates what I do.

I’m guessing that there are more than a few in Ferguson who do appreciate them. Our media are very good at magnifying the five or ten per cent that are noisy a-holes, and make it appear to the world like they represent everyone.

[scooby321]

As Bernie Goldberg said even if there was video they would riot

[Caipirabob]

Oh, good heavens...thugs in da hood might be disappointed and act aggressively in response. /*yawn*

[driftless2]

When did Goldberg say that?

[theBuckwheat]

A headline written with the presumption of guilt. Shameful. Dangerous to liberty and the rule of law.

[Sacajaweau]

No matter what the decision is....they'll still riot. It's what these children of Obama do.

Nothing but a big get out the vote campaign.

Bet Obama makes a statement...and then says...Vote Dem if you want all the benefits that whitey "works" for.

[Smokin' Joe]

If the police went home so would the protesters....

If the media went home, so would the protesters...

[caww]

Yep....

[caww]

Maybe get the black woman to admit they're killing their own babies in droves...

[caww]

This is how many still see themselves....these are the young black people of today....and will always see themselves as victims because they refuse to take responsibility for their decisions....and the adults will always encourage this.