Sobering daylight in Ferguson exposes a city in shambles
Daylight shed a sobering light on Ferguson, Missouri, and the surrounding communities on Tuesday after a night of violent protests rocked the city.
Tensions quickly rose following the announcement that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown on Aug. 9. Protesters swiftly took to the streets demanding justice for Brown.
By the end of the night, businesses had been burned, cars torched, stores looted and shots fired. The protests escalated far beyond any of the uprising in Ferguson in August.
Overnight, 61 people were arrested in Ferguson, according to St. Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman. Less than 10 miles away, in St. Louis, there were 21 arrests, according to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.
Speaking during a press conference on South Grand Avenue on Tuesday morning, Slay appealed for peace in the community amid piles of broken glass; 21 windows were broken in the area overnight, Slay added.
"I first and foremost condemn the terrible violence that occurred in Ferguson," said Slay. "
A storage site was still smoldering on Tuesday morning after being set alight on Monday night.It's unacceptable, it's wrong. The vast majority of people living in our region condemn it as well."
One reporter surveying the scene likened the streets of Ferguson to a city after a natural disaster.
Burned out cars lined the streets near Ferguson City Walk.
It's unacceptable, it's wrong. The vast majority of people living in our region condemn it as well."A storage site was still smoldering on Tuesday morning after being set alight on Monday night.
Local businesses remained boarded up while some community members took to the streets to begin cleanup efforts.
Mayor Slay emphasized that violent protesters made up just a small portion of the larger group of demonstrators.
"This is a very good community of a lot of people who care deeply about our city who are investing in their community. they are working hard to bring back this area of the city," Slay said.
"They don't deserve it. The people of our community do not deserve this kind of violence."
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