Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to key eventsSkip to navigation

Ferguson crisis: Obama says 'young men of colour are left behind' – live updates

This article is more than 9 years old
 Updated 
Mon 18 Aug 2014 18.25 EDTFirst published on Mon 18 Aug 2014 09.39 EDT
Ferguson protest
A protester holds up a sign as police try to keep protesters and media moving by not allowing anyone to congregate. Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP
A protester holds up a sign as police try to keep protesters and media moving by not allowing anyone to congregate. Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP

Live feed

Key events

Summary

We’re going to wrap up our live blog coverage for the time being. We will continue to post updates throughout the evening on our home page.

Follow the Guardian’s Rory Carroll (@rorycarroll72) and Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) for ongoing reporting from Ferguson.

Here’s a summary of where things stand:

St Louis County police have created an “organized protest zone” as people gather for another night of demonstrations.

US president Barack Obama loosely addressed racial disparities in the US criminal justice system while making remarks about Ferguson on Monday. “You have young men of color in many communities who are more likely to end up in jail or the criminal justice system, then they are in a good job or college,” Obama said.

He also said multiple times that one of the great things about the US is how it distinguishes its military from local law enforcement. He said it may be worth it to review the government’s controversial grant program that allows local law enforcement agencies to use excess military equipment.

Attorney general Eric Holder is heading to Ferguson on Wednesday, said Obama. He will be there to meet with department of justice and FBI investigators who are already working in Ferguson. The two met earlier on Monday during a break from his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. “I realize there is tremendous interest in the facts of the incident that led to Michael Brown’s death, but I ask for the public’s patience as we conduct this investigation,” Holder said in a statement released after their meeting.

State governor Jay Nixon abandoned the curfew for Monday night. Despite a curfew being in place on Sunday night from 12am to 5pm, it was largely considered the most intense night of action thus far.

Missouri’s national guard arrived in Ferguson on Monday after governor Nixon called for their deployment in the early hours of the morning. He said they would be working alongside law enforcement who have been monitoring the unrest for the past eight days.

A Pew study released on Monday shows that black and white adults in the US have “sharply different reactions” to the shooting of Michael Brown. Of the 1,000 adults surveyed, 80% of black people said the story raises important issues about race, while 37% of white people felt that way.

Share
Updated at 

Reporter Chris Campbell spoke with a friend of Barbara Spradling, the girlfriend of the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, officer Darren Wilson. The friend said that Wilson admits he shot Brown in the head.

However, Wilson’s version of events, as told through Spradling to the friend, contradicts aspects of the accounts given by some other eyewitnesses, including Dorian Johnson, a friend of Brown who was with him when he was stopped, minutes after the pair were allegedly involved in a robbery at a convenience store.

There appears to be little dispute that a struggle took place, though the pathologists who carried out the autopsy for Brown’s family said Monday their preliminary finding was that Brown’s body showed no evidence of one. The account provided by police, given in the hours after the shooting, is that Wilson stopped Brown and Johnson for walking down the middle of the street when they should have been on the sidewalk.

Spradling told the friend who spoke to the Guardian that Brown initiated the altercation by striking Wilson in the face, leading to a struggle for Wilson’s gun that resulted in one shot being fired in the police vehicle.

Several protesters were removed from demonstrations outside the Wainwright state office building in St Louis, according to multiple reports. A crowd gathered there earlier this afternoon.

From Chris Stanford. Guards keeping protestors out of Wainwright building. Incredible pic #ferguson pic.twitter.com/IYtnNY6Qzp

— Chris Nagus (@ChrisNagusKMOV) August 18, 2014

Police now arresting peaceful protesters for no apparent reason, state office building # ferguson pic.twitter.com/EiiLImfcNo

— Zeke Johnson (@ZekeJohnsonAi) August 18, 2014

Right now, half a dozen protestors arrested at State office building in downtown STL over #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/PRZOzJWQkz

— Kevin Killeen (@KMOXKilleen) August 18, 2014

Police create "organized protest zone"

St Louis County police department has created “an organized protest zone” for demonstrators to contain themselves in after eight nights of protests across the city’s streets. A media staging area will be across from the protest zone as law enforcement attempt to control the situation. The police department explained the zones in a statement:

An organized protest zone is being established at Ferguson and W. Florissant. Media can stay at existing media staging area, or move to new media staging area which will be across the street from the protest zone. This will put the media on the shoulder of the road, across the street on W. Florissant from the protest zone. Please be patient with us as we make this transition.

Also, W. Florissant will be closed to through traffic within the hour. As always, advise road blocks by showing media credentials for access.

US attorney general Eric Holder released a statement on Monday following his meeting with Barack Obama about Ferguson and provided details on the department of justice’s investigation into the shooting.

“I realize there is tremendous interest in the facts of the incident that led to Michael Brown’s death, but I ask for the public’s patience as we conduct this investigation,” Holder said. “The selective release of sensitive information that we have seen in this case so far is troubling to me. No matter how others pursue their own separate inquiries, the Justice Department is resolved to preserve the integrity of its investigation. This is a critical step in restoring trust between law enforcement and the community, not just in Ferguson, but beyond.

Holder said an additional medical examination of Brown’s body is being performed today by “one of the most experienced medical examiners in the United States military.”

More than 40 FBI agents are canvassing the neighborhood where Michael Brown was shot and several interviews have been conducted.

“In order to truly begin the process of healing, we must also see an end to the acts of violence in the streets of Ferguson,” Holder said. “Those who have been peacefully demonstrating should join with law enforcement in condemning the actions of looters and others seeking to enflame tensions.

Video of Barack Obama’s afternoon press conference on the situation in Ferguson. Obama called on protesters to be peaceful and said attorney general Eric Holder will be in Ferguson on Wednesday.

State violence created street violence in Ferguson, says Guardian columnist Gary Younge. He said statements about criminal acts by protesters ignore the nature, scale and source of the problem:

Nobody in their right mind wants more violent protests. But nobody wants more Michael Browns either. And those two things – the violence of the state and the violence of the street – are connected. “A riot,” said Martin Luther King, “is the language of the unheard.” The people on the streets don’t donate thousands of dollars to anyone’s campaign. They don’t get a seat at any table where decisions are made or have the ear of the powerful. But with four black men killed by the police in the country in the last four weeks, they have a lot to say, and precious few avenues through which to say it. The question now is who’s listening.

Some observers were critical of Obama’s remarks, which went in circles at times as he tried to avoid showing any bias in the Michael Brown case.

I don't expect President Obama to become a race man, I expect him not to reinforce notions of inherent Black deficiency.

— Jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014

Barack Obama is either very tired, doesn’t believe a single word he’s saying re: Michael Brown, or both.

— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) August 18, 2014

I’ll say this. The fact that Eric Holder is going to Ferguson should probably give us a sense of what he really thinks.

— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) August 18, 2014

@rembert @tanehisicoates i think this is what happens when you're asked to sublimate your race-based anger for 8 years. of course he's tired

— Bijan Stephen (@bijanstephen) August 18, 2014

Obama addresses racial disparities in US criminal justice system

“In too many communities around this country young men of color are left behind and seen as objects of fear,” Obama said. He repeatedly touted his My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which was created to address the opportunity gap men of color face in the US.

“You have young men of color in many communities who are more likely to end up in jail or the criminal justice system, then they are in a good job or college,” Obama said.

“We’ve made extraordinary progress, but it’s not enough,” he said.

“Part of this is looking at our criminal justice to make sure it is upholding the principle that everyone is equal before the law,” Obama said.

“Given the history of this country, where we can build up by making more confidence, more trust, making sure that our criminal justice system is acutely aware of the possibilities of disparities in treatment.”

“In too many communities in this country, a gulf exists between the community and law enforcement,” Obama said.

“I think one of the great things about the United States is the ability to maintain a distinction between our military and domestic law enforcement,” Obama said. “That helps protect our civil liberties.”

A reporter asked Obama about the government’s grant program that allows local law enforcement agencies to use excess military equipment. Images of armored vehicles rolling down the streets of Ferguson, which has a population of about 21,000 people, have renewed criticism for this program.

“I think it’s probably useful for us to review how the funding has gone,” Obama said. “How local law enforcement has used local grant dollars to make sure they are purchasing stuff they actually need. There is a difference between the military and local law enforcement and we don’t want those lines blurred.”

Attorney general Eric Holder to visit Ferguson on Wednesday

President Barack Obama is providing updates on the situation in Ferguson from the White House briefing room as he takes a brief break from his vacation. He met with attorney general Eric Holder earlier today to get updates on the situation.

He said he also spoke with governor Jay Nixon and other local politicians earlier today.

The justice department has opened an independent civil rights investigation into the shooting. Holder is traveling to Ferguson on Wednesday to meet with FBI and department of justice employees currently on the ground working on the investigation.

“We have all seen images of protestors and law enforcements in the streets, it’s clear that the vast majority of people are peacefully protesting,” Obama said. “What is also clear is that a small minority are not.”

The national guard is first and foremost a state agency which is why Missouri governor Jay Nixon was reportedly able to activate the troops without running it by the White House. The Guardian’s Lauren Gambino has more on what the national guard is and when it gets called up:

In 1992 California national guard forces were called in to regain control of Los Angeles after riots erupted when four white officers were acquitted of severely beating a black man, Rodney King. President George HW Bush then declared it a federal disaster area and called the guard into federal service. More than 50 people died and nearly 2,000 people were injured before the troops eventually quelled the situation.

Jim Craig, an associate professor of military and veteran studies at the University of Missouri-St Louis, questioned whether the presence of the national guard would be effective in Ferguson. “The National Guard by design is militarised, and so that doesn’t theoretically de-escalate the situation. It actually may change the dynamic.”

Missouri highway patrolman Ron Johnson said that law enforcement has a plan to maintain resident safety tonight. “We will also ensure that peaceful protests will be allowed in the city of Ferguson,” Johnson said.

“We will not allow vandals, criminal elements to impact the safety and security of this community,” Johnson said.

Missouri National Guard general Greg Mason said that his soldiers are well-trained, well-seasoned and well-resourced.

President Barack Obama is due to speak at any minute.

Troops in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/je2bkSckuZ

— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 18, 2014

Volunteers are handing out water, food and diapers near the scene of the Mike Brown shooting. Earlier today, the local chapter of the NAACP said the government should be providing assistance to families who live in the areas which have seen the most protest action.

Pampers, children's books, and food being given out to people who live on Canfield in #Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/8rX9XmDK6F

— Diana Zoga KMOV (@DIANAZOGA) August 18, 2014

A Pew study released on Monday shows that black and white adults in the US have “sharply different reactions” to the shooting of Michael Brown. Of the 1,000 adults surveyed:

80% of black people said the story raises important issues about race, while 37% of white people felt that way.

65% of black people think the police response to protests is too much, while 33% of white people felt that way.

18% of black people said they have a “great deal/fair amount” of confidence in the investigations into the shooting, while 53% of white people felt that way.

More white people thought the issue of race was getting too much attention in July 2013 after a Florida jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Then, 28% of white people said the story raised important issues about race, compared to the 37% who feel that way about the Michael Brown shooting.

President Barack Obama is slated to make a statement on Ferguson and Iraq at 4pm ET/3pm CT. He took a break from his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard to meet with attorney general Eric Holder earlier today.

St Louis mayor Francis Slay said he supports the governor’s decision to bring the national guard into the city.

An increasingly organized and growing number of outside agitators in Ferguson has prompted Gov Nixon to shift strategies. #fgs

— MayorSlay.com (@MayorSlay) August 18, 2014


I believe his decision is the correct one. @Missouri_NG adds units with special training and rested personnel to the county's response. #fgs

— MayorSlay.com (@MayorSlay) August 18, 2014
Explore more on these topics

Comments (…)

Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

Most viewed

Most viewed