Ever since innocent Missouri teen Michael Brown was fatally shot by police, his small town of Ferguson as well as journalists who've shown up in the area to cover the news have taken to social media to report the events following the tragedy.
August 9
Michael Brown was stopped by Ferguson police Saturday morning after he allegedly shoplifted cigars from a nearby liquor store. An altercation ensued, and Brown was shot by police. The videos below show other police vehicles speeding to the scene, before the public at large found out about the gruesome details surrounding Brown's death. One local reporter on the scene Brittany Noble said, "Police confirmed they shot & killed a suspect. Here is the scene. Never seen anything like this before."
August 10
After news that Brown was unarmed and had his arms raised in the air before being shot, Ferguson community members began staging protests, and some began to riot. The liquor store that Brown was said to have stolen from was destroyed, and other stores in the area were looted.
Citizen gets crowd to pray in front of police dpt. for slain teen and police. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Xk2FUGy59V
— michelemunz (@michelemunz) August 10, 2014
August 11
Riots continued into the next day, and SWAT teams began to fire rubber bullets and tear gas at protestors and journalists who were in the area, in an attempt to lock down the scene and prevent access. The name of the officers involved have still not been released.
A line of police cars with high beams on greats anyone trying to enter #Ferguson. It's shut down. No media allowed. pic.twitter.com/pPE2m4G0UQ
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 12, 2014
August 12
As police gained control of crowds, other protestors took to the County Prosecutors' Office to voice their anger about the authorities handling of the situation. President Obama released a statement on Michael Brown, while the FAA restricted flights around Ferguson, which will cause problems for news agencies around the area.
Windows boarded up as precaution at Shoe Carnival in Maplewood; also closing early. Corporate mandate. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/yZHt9SqXC1
— Michael Calhoun (@michaelcalhoun) August 12, 2014
FAA says flight restriction over Ferguson which hinder news coverage is "TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES."
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) August 12, 2014
All of these people would like to go home. Police blocking exit out of neighborhood. #ferguson pic.twitter.com/voM9Oy57U5
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) August 12, 2014
Signs of the times in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/cMooShDdA8
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 12, 2014
August 13
Police began tear gassing crowds, firing rubber bullets, and arresting journalists as the protests continued to rage on. Among those arrested were The Huffington Post's Ryan Reilly, Washington Post's Wesley Lowery, and Antonio French, Alderman of the 21st Ward in St. Louis.
Happening now in #Ferguson https://t.co/qg6vDs916H
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
Happening now in #Ferguson https://t.co/64RGlmDXBc
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
August 14
More footage of reporters being arrested have made the rounds on social media as the protests move into its fifth day. Footage shows police taking down camera equipment and arresting reporters, also of Ferguson's mayor saying that peaceful protestors "maybe" want justice. President Obama held a news conference this morning on both the situation in Iraq and then Ferguson, saying "I've already tasked the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate the death of Michael Brown." A story from Deadspin called, "America Is Not For Black People"," went viral. Antonio French was released from jail.
@YourAnonNews pic.twitter.com/BYzICbxrUp
— Cath Turner (@ajecathturner) August 14, 2014
“America Is Not For Black People” by @greghoward88 http://t.co/EXAe5JRCwg #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/qFy45v1Kck
— Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) August 14, 2014
My interview with local media following my release from #Ferguson jail this morning: http://t.co/7ScNgrVfmn
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
August 15
Darren Wilson was identified as the officer who killed Michael Brown the same day that police uploaded footage of Brown shoplifting from a convenience store on YouTube. Police said that Wilson didn't know Brown was involved in the shoplifting incident when he shot him. Hacker group Anonymous promised to keep watch.
We have eyes on #Ferguson and will report if anything happens.
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) August 16, 2014
Dear media: If Michael Brown's race is mentioned in a news report, so should officer Darren Wilson's race. #Ferguson
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) August 15, 2014
#Ferguson PD chief: released video "bc press asked for it." Uh, press is also asking what happened in the shooting. Maybe 'release' that?
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) August 15, 2014
Freedom of assembly: Singing gospel, honking and holding melting protest signs in the rain. #ferguson pic.twitter.com/gWWG6unJjz
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 16, 2014
"No one's ever going to know what's in the mind of Michael Brown because he's dead." The ever-sensitive Wolf Blitzer. #ferguson
— Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) August 15, 2014
August 16
Police fired tear gas into crowds to get them to disperse as night fell. Many of the protestors were intoxicated at that point, according to one reporter. Earlier in the day, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who is from Missouri, marched along with protestors. Police called for a curfew in Ferguson after Friday saw tremendous amounts of looting.
The crowd constantly siding with Cpt. Johnson. Amazing and disarming leader. #Ferguson
— Jack (@jack) August 17, 2014
Rain is helping to clear out people. Most activity happening around the QT now. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/aCSJyjFD7P
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 17, 2014
Several dozen protesters, many intoxicated, remain in the parking lot of Red's BBQ, at the corner of W. Florissant and Canfield. #Ferguson
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) August 17, 2014
Live streamers trying to find an exit. Tear gas still being deployed in massive amounts. #Ferguson
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) August 17, 2014
Hundreds of police officers are heading down to protestors. They just put their gas masks on. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/gzxY2CAPAm
— Jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) August 17, 2014
"Please go back" a local minister says. #Ferguson https://t.co/frFPTQSEud
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 17, 2014
August 17
One person was shot and seven arrested the night before. Attorney General Eric Holder announced a second autopsy of Michael Brown will occur due to "extraordinary circumstances." John Oliver trends on Twitter late at night and into Monday morning after he says a powerful monologue on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight, about Ferguson. A group of protestors in St. Louis form in support of the officer who shot Michael Brown. The group is made up of mostly Whites. CNN interviews a retired police officer who says he doesn't think the "black community understands the system."
The most significant result of the protest: DOJ will conduct its on autopsy. #Ferguson
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) August 17, 2014
These men have come to #Ferguson, MO all the way from India, where they live in exile, to bring a message of PEACE.✌️ pic.twitter.com/Zt8zNQWGEq
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 17, 2014
.@iamjohnoliver on what's happening in #Ferguson - https://t.co/DEx6PExxYQ
— Sonia Paul (@sonipaul) August 18, 2014
August 18
Amnesty International deployed a human rights team to the U.S., the first time it has ever sent one to the country. People clean up after last night's protests.
#Ferguson remnants of brick barricade built by protesters pic.twitter.com/4zhAtXRp4q via @PDPJ
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) August 18, 2014
Morning in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/fTr7ZKM5wu
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 18, 2014
