President Obama delivers a statement on Ferguson, Mo.
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Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed an executive order early Monday to deploy the National Guard to help manage the more than week-long unrest in Ferguson.
Nixon ordered the National Guard to the Missouri suburb after another night of clashes that left two to three people injured and seven to eight arrested.
“Tonight, a day of hope, prayers, and peaceful protests was marred by the violent criminal acts of an organized and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state, whose actions are putting the residents and businesses of Ferguson at risk,” Nixon said in a statement on his website. “I join the people of Ferguson, and all Missourians, in strongly condemning this criminal activity that included firing upon law enforcement officers, shooting a civilian, throwing Molotov cocktails, looting, and a coordinated attempt to block roads and overrun the Unified Command Center. These violent acts are a disservice to the family of Michael Brown and his memory, and to the people of this community who yearn for justice to be served, and to feel safe in their own homes. Given these deliberate, coordinated and intensifying violent attacks on lives and property in Ferguson, I am directing the highly capable men and women of the Missouri National Guard to assist Colonel Ron Replogle and the Unified Command in restoring peace and order to this community.”
Capt. Ron Johnson, who is in command in Ferguson, held a press conference at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, confirming that protestors shot at police, threw Molotov cocktails, looted a Domino’s Pizza, a Dollar Store, and broke into a McDonald’s — an action residents said was done to find refuge from tear gas canisters fired upon them.
We’ll keep you updated with the latest from Ferguson.
SOURCE: Governor.mo.gov | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
