More than 2,000 soldiers were ordered into the riot-torn US town of Ferguson yesterday as the family of a slain black teenager denounced the “broken” justice system that failed to indict the white policeman who shot him.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said the National Guard presence in the Ferguson area would be tripled to 2,200 after a night of racially-charged violent protests following Monday´s decision by a grand jury.
“Lives and property must be protected. This community deserves to have peace,” Nixon said, as fury mounted nationwide and charged protests took place in several cities.
“The Guard team will be positioned and ready to act at a moment´s notice if challenges arise.” He added.
Lawyers for the family of slain youth Michael Brown, backed by civil rights leaders, denounced the prosecutor whose grand jury hearing found that the officer had killed the 18-year-old in self-defense.
Rioting, looting and arson attacks erupted in Ferguson overnight after the decision, despite a huge deployment of police and state troopers, and the St Louis suburb was braced for more to come.
In Washington, President Barack Obama made a televised appearance to appeal for calm, echoing the sentiments of the dead teenager´s family.
“Michael Brown´s parents have lost more than anyone. We should be honoring their wishes,” Obama said.
Some witnesses had said in August that Brown had his hands up and was surrendering when he was killed. But McCulloch said the physical evidence and other witnesses contradicted this account.
