Ferguson Protests: Curfew Lifted Despite Night Of Looting, Violence

Two days after it was initiated, the curfew imposed on Ferguson, Missouri, was lifted Monday by Gov. Jay Nixon as the National Guard was deployed to the St. Louis suburb to ease tensions that erupted with the shooting of Michael Brown. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to disperse protesters Sunday night as authorities tried to enforce the midnight to 5 a.m. curfew. Some demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and one protester shot another.

“Last night, Ferguson, Missouri experienced a very difficult and dangerous night as a result of a violent criminal element intent upon terrorizing the community. As long as there are vandals and looters and threats to the people and property of Ferguson, we must take action to protect our citizens,” Nixon said in a statement.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is still overseeing security in Ferguson while the National Guard is there to “restore peace and order,” Nixon said.

“With these additional resources in place, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement will continue to respond appropriately to incidents of lawlessness and violence, and protect the civil rights of all peaceful citizens to make their voices heard,” the governor said. “We will not use a curfew tonight.”