RECENT UPDATE OF CHAOS IN FERGUSON:
Journalists sue St. Louis County police for alleged battery, false arrest
Politico | Hadas Gold | 3/31/15
Four journalists are filing a lawsuit against the St. Louis County police department for battery, false arrest and unreasonable search and seizure while they were covering the unrest in the city following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in August.
The suit is being brought by The Intercept’s Ryan Devereaux as well as German journalists Ansgar Graw, Frank Herrmann and Lukas Hermsmeier. The suit seeks unspecified punitive damages.
In one incident, the suit alleges Devereaux and Hermsmeier were shot at with rubber bullets while walking toward police with their hands in the air and identifying themselves as members of the media. Police then arrested the two, holding them for several hours before charging them with “refusal to disperse.” Devereaux and Hermsmeier allege that their hands were injured as the result of plastic handcuffs they were made to wear for several hours.
Graw and Herrmann were arrested while trying to cover the protest and police activity at a gas station. According to the suit, Graw continued to take photographs after being told to “keep moving” by police while Herrmann questioned the directive. At that point, the police arrested the two journalists and allegedly purposely tightened the plastic handcuffs to inflict pain. When Graw asked for one of the arresting officer’s names, he replied “Donald Duck.” Both Graw and Herrmann allege that they suffered injuries from the handcuffs.
In both incidents, the journalists allege police complained about media coverage of the events in Ferguson. Graw and Herrmann were told they should be “ashamed” of being journalists.
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TIMELINE OF EVENTS IN FERGUSON:
MAS.700 | Melissa Clark | 3/30/2015
Ferguson, Missouri August 2014 – Present
AUGUST 9, 2014
11:48 a.m. – An officer responds to a call of an ill person
11:51 a.m. – A robbery was reported at a local convenience store. In the call, the dispatcher gives a description of the robber and reports the suspect walking toward the ‘Quick Trip’ convenience store
12:01 p.m. – The officer (responding to the ill person) arrives on the scene and encounters Michael Brown and a friend walking down the middle of the street. Brown is shot to death at the end of the encounter.
12:04 p.m – A second officer now arrives on scene followed by a supervisor. The ambulance that was dispatched for the ill person is now responding to the scene of the officer and suspect (Michael Brown).
AUGUST 10, 2014
10:00 a.m. – News Conference held by the St. Louis County Police Chief Joe Belmar:
>Suspect (Michael Brown, 18) was unarmed
>Brown physically assaulted the officer, and during the struggle between the two, Brown reached for the officer’s gun. One shot was fired in the car followed by gunshots outside of the officer’s car.
>Michael Brown’s parents hire attorney Benjamin Crump (who represented Trayvon Martins family)
8:00 p.m. – A candlelight vigil to honor Brown turned violent and violence and vandal ensued (Over 12 businesses were vandalized and looted, more than 30 people were arrested, and 2 police officers suffered injuries)
AUGUST 11, 2014
5:00 a.m. – The first day of school is canceled in Jennings, Missouri (near Ferguson) to keep students safe.
7:00 a.m. – Ferguson police and city officials say death threats have been made against the police force in relation to the fatal shooting.
10:00 a.m. – Hundreds of people gather outside the Ferguson Police Department to demand justice for Brown’s death (Police arrested 7 people)
11:00 a.m. – FBI announced they will launch a parallel investigation into the case.
2:00 p.m. – St. Louis County Police Department announced that it would release the name of the officer who is accused of shooting Brown (by noon on 08/11/14)
4:00 p.m. – Brown’s parents (and attorney) hold a press conference to ask for the violence to stop and demand justice for their son.
8:00 p.m. – People gather on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson (main street in the town). Police use tear gas to disperse crowds that did not protest peacefully. 15 arrested | Withholding officer’s name due to death threats made on social media.
AUGUST 12, 2014
10:00 a.m. – Protesters gather at St. Louis County Police Department to make demands over the investigation of Brown’s death.
12:00 p.m. – Rev. Al Sharpton arrives in St. Louis to demand justice for fatal shooting, he spoke at the Old Courthouse early 08/12/14
1:00 p.m. – Preliminary autopsy report was released by St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s office. The FAA announces air restrictions over Ferguson to enable law enforcement helicopters
3:00 p.m. – Officials charge 9 people for looting on 08/10/14 – 08/11/14
4:00 p.m. – President Obama released a statement regarding the Brown incident. The Justice Department will review police tactics across the country.
7:00 p.m. – Governor Jay Nixon, Mayor of St. Louis come together to speak about the Brown incident. Rev. Al Sharpton and Brown family publicly urge for a peaceful protest toward justice for Michael Brown.
10:00 p.m. – Tensions between protestors and Police are high (protestors arrive from all over the country)
AUGUST 13, 2014
10:00 a.m. – Protestors are asked to protest during the day. Volunteers gather to help clean up after tense violence episodes. Brown’s remain have now been turned over to his family.
3:00 p.m. – Justice Department opens a federal civil rights investigation
4:00 p.m. – Information released: 911 tape will be released, Brown had no criminal background, Ferguson-Florissant School District remains closed, Police detain 2 reporters (Huffington Post and Washington Post) at a Ferguson McDonalds
9:00 p.m. – Police throw tear gas at protestors to disperse crowds, police also force media to move out of the area, tear gas is thrown at the Al Jazeera America News crew.
10:00 p.m. – Governor Jay Nixon on Twitter: cancels his visit to the Missouri State Fair, in order to visit Ferguson.
> People are being arrested for “unlawful assembly”
AUGUST 14, 2014
6:00 a.m. – 16 people have been arrested and 2 officers have been injured during the 4th night of the violence.
7:00 a.m. – Missouri Governor Jay Nixon makes his first stop through north St. Louis County and Ferguson
11:40 a.m. – Obama addresses the nation and urges for calm, and called on local police to be “open and transparent”
3:30 p.m. – Governor Nixon announces that the Missouri Highway Patrol will take control of security in Ferguson. Captain Ron Johnson will now oversee Ferguson (He was born and raised near the community).
6:00 p.m. – Silent vigils are held across the country in remembrance and honor of Michael Brown.
8:00 p.m. – Citizens march peacefully alongside state troopers, no more violent clashes reported
AUGUST 15, 2014
9:00 a.m. – Darren Wilson is named the officer who shot brown on August 9, 2014.
12:00 p.m. – Dorian Johnson (eyewitness) who was interviewed by law enforcement, says that both Johnson and Brown took part in the convenience store robbery prior to the shooting. Brown Family “beyond outraged” by the information and how its assassinates the “character of their son.”
3:00 p.m. Chief Jackson announces that Officer Wilson did not know Brown was a suspect in a strong-armed robbery that occurred before the fatal shooting. (Wilson stopped Brown for walking down the middle of the street / Brown yelled back at the officer)
9:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. – Police and over 200 protesters clash. Rocks are thrown at officers and armored trucks are deployed onto the streets (tear gas in used to disperse crowds). Businesses are forced to shut their doors due to looting.
AUGUST 16, 2014
3:00 p.m. – Governor Nixon issues a state of emergency for the Ferguson area and imposed a curfew. “This is a test. The eyes of the world are watching.”
AUGUST 17, 2014
5:00 a.m. – 7 people were arrested, and 1 person was shot as police and protestors clashed.
2:00 p.m. – The Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder order a separate federal autopsy for Brown at the request of the family. (The St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s autopsy concluded that brown died of gunshot wounds, six to be exact). Autopsy contradicted a witness statement indicating that Brown was hit as he ran away from the police.
AUGUST 18, 2014
2:00 a.m. – Governor Nixon orders the National Guard into Ferguson after protestors shot at police, threw Molotov cocktails at officers, looted businesses, and carried out “coordinated attempt” to clock roads and overrun police command.
1:00 p.m. Governor Nixon lifts the curfew in Ferguson after it failed to prohibit violence the past two nights.
3:30 p.m. – Obama announces that Eric Holder will be sent to Ferguson to monitor the process.
5:00 p.m. – Getty Images photographer, Scott Olson, was arrested Monday while reporting in Ferguson.
9:00 p.m. – Ferguson-Florissant School District cancels school for the rest of the week to protect students
AUGUST 19, 2014
3:00 A.M. – 31 people were arrested over the night, 4 police officers were injured, and at least 2 people were shot.
7:00 a.m. – Brown’s mother goes on the Today Show and declares, “When justice is prevailed, then maybe they’ll regain their trust in the locals.”
1:00 p.m. – Man, 23, was fatally shot by police in North St. Lewis, as he threatened an officer with a knife, after threatening to kill him.
AUGUST 20, 2014
12:00 a.m. – 47 people were arrested and threats were made to kill an officer.
12:00 p.m. – Grand jury began their investigation on whether Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson should be criminally charged for the death of Michael Brown.
AUGUST 21, 2014
2:00 a.m. – First night of relative calm in Ferguson. Many of the protestors had gone home, tensions diffused, and police were more relaxed.
12:00 p.m. – Governor Nixon orders the Missouri National Guard to start withdrawing from Ferguson.
AUGUST 22, 2014
1:00 a.m. – 7 arrests amid relative calm.
AUGUST 23, 2014
2:00 a.m. – Captain Ron Johnson said the police didn’t make any arrests that night. More calm. Online funds for both Officer Darren Wilson and Brown were created; Wilson’s continued to grown and surpasses Brown’s funds.
2:00 p.m. The NAACP held a peaceful protest throughout Ferguson.
7:00 p.m. President Obama announced that White house aides will attend Brown’s funeral. The White House will also look into how local police forces are equipped and run.
AUGUST 24, 2014
2:00 a.m. – 6 were arrested overnight
AUGUST 25, 2014
-Brown’s public funeral was held at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014
-Officer Darren Wilson testifies before the grand jury, which was reviewing evidence in Brown’s death to determine whether Wilson should face criminal charges.
OCTOBER 10, 2014
-A four-day peaceful protest “Ferguson October” with planned civil disobedience was planned.
OCTOBER 13, 2014
-Cornel West (clergy and academic activist) was arrested in Ferguson. Hundreds of protesters marched in Ferguson during “Ferguson October.
NOVEMBER 11, 2014
-Governor Nixon claims he will activate National Guard to respond to any unrest that erupts after the grand jury decision is delivered.
NOVEMBER 13, 2014
-“Hands up, Don’t Shoot” protests and “Die-Ins” are held across the country in major cities and universities.
NOVEMBER 21, 2014
-Schools in Ferguson were closed in anticipation of grand jury decision.
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
– St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict officer Darren Wilson for firing six shots in the confrontation hat killed Michael brown.
>24 journalists have been arrested while covering the unrest in Ferguson (The Huffington Post, 3/15)
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Sources: USA Today | 12/2/14 | http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/14/michael-brown-ferguson-missouri-timeline/14051827/
The Huffington Post | 3/30/15
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/30/civi-rights-action-journalists-ferguson_n_6971346.html
ABC News | 3/15/15
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/timeline-events-fatal-police-shooting-ferguson-29653702