Ferguson: Missouri's governor ordered hundreds more state militia into a St. Louis suburb on Tuesday after a night of protests and rioting over a grand jury decision's not to indict a white police officer in the killing of an unarmed black 18-year-old, a case that has inflamed racial tensions in the U.S.
Attorneys for the family of the slain young man, Michael Brown, criticized the grand jury's decision as rigged but appealed for peace.
The decision announced on Thursday night means Officer Darren Wilson will not face any state criminal charges in the Aug. 9 shooting, which reignited debates over relations between police and minority communities, even in cities far from Ferguson, the St. Louis suburb where Brown was killed.
Wilson, in an interview with ABC News, said he has a clean conscience because “I know I did my job right.”
Wilson, who has been on leave since the Aug. 9 shooting, told ABC that Brown's shooting marked the first time he had fired his gun.
Several protests broke out for a second day in the St. Louis area and other cities. About 300 people marched from a park to the St. Louis courthouse, chanting “You didn't indict. We shall fight.” Police used pepper spray and arrested several demonstrators who blocked major intersections in St. Louis.
In Ferguson, 12 commercial buildings were burned down and other businesses were looted during overnight protests, authorities said.
The protests that followed the grand jury decision quickly became chaotic, with protesters looting and setting fire to businesses and vehicles, including at least two police cars. Officers eventually lobbed tear gas from inside armored vehicles to disperse crowds.
Gov. Jay Nixon said more than 2,200 National Guardsmen—state militia—will be in place in the region near Ferguson on Tuesday night in the event of more violence. He said hundreds more will be deployed to Ferguson.
President Barack Obama deplored the destructive acts, saying they are criminal and those responsible should be prosecuted. But America's first black president said he understands that many people are upset by the grand jury decision.
