Curfew fails to halt violence in Ferguson
ST LOUIS
PROTESTERS and police clashed early yesterday despite a night curfew imposed on Ferguson, St Louis, Missouri, to try to quell days of violence that erupted after an unarmed black teenager was shot dead by a white police officer a week ago.
A person was shot and critically wounded during the night, and it was not clear why. Police said the shooter was still at large.
The person, who was shot at a restaurant, was in critical condition, Missouri state highway patrol captain Ron Johnson said.
Police were unable to identify the victim, who was not shot by officers.
Civil rights activist Al Sharpton called for an end to violence and looting.
“One person was shot last night, and we don’t know if was related to the protest or not, or who shot them, but we do not need more people hurt to stop the hurt,” Mr Sharpton said on his radio show, Hour of Power.
The latest confrontation occurred when demonstrators remained in the streets of the suburb after a curfew imposed by Governor Jay Nixon took effect at midnight on Saturday.
Law enforcement officials used loudspeakers to tell protesters to disperse. Officers equipped with gas masks and full -length shields stood among and on top of armoured vehicles. Seven people were arrested for failing to disperse.
Mr Nixon imposed the curfew on Saturday after a week of racially charged protests and looting over the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
The clashes have pitted mostly black protesters against mostly white police in a residential and retail district of the suburb.