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Updates on Protests Over Police Shooting in Ferguson, Mo.
Slide Show | Protests in Ferguson Spread to Other Cities Vigils were held on Thursday in more than 90 cities around the country to commemorate the victims of police brutality.
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
August 14, 2014
Thousands of people gathered for peaceful vigils Thursday night in dozens of cities across the country from San Francisco to Boston to remember Michael Brown, the unarmed young black man shot and killed on Saturday by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. In a move to restore calm, Gov. Jay Nixon of Missouri turned to a commander from the state’s highway patrol to oversee security efforts in Ferguson, where local and county police have clashed with protesters in recent days. The Times provided updates.
12:03 A.M. | Photos: Vigils Across the Nation
11:34 P.M. | Video of Peaceful Protests Thursday Night in Ferguson
A video from the Associated Press shows peaceful protests Thursday night in Ferguson, Mo., a sharp contrast from the images of violent clashes between police and protesters the night before.
Demonstrators came together for a vigil at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., Thursday night.
Gabriella Demczuk / The New York Times
Earlier in the evening, CNN’s Jake Tapper spoke to Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. At the request of Missouri’s governor, Captain Johnson is now supervising security in this suburb north of St. Louis.
“A young man lost his life and so I grieve for that family because I have a son,” Mr. Johnson said. “We are going to look at this from a personal standpoint.”
He vowed that he would not put officers on the street with tear gas or other military-style equipment unless such resources were needed.
10:34 P.M. | Protesters are Arrested in Florida
Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri said that the police response in Ferguson needed to be demilitarized.
Whitney Curtis for The New York Times
Arrests are happening!!!!!! #handsup http://t.co/eRurBlr4ta
　 The Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) 14 Aug 14
Eight people, protesting the killings of unarmed young people by police, were arrested in Florida on Thursday after refusing to leave the office of the United States Attorney in Miami, a civil rights group said.
When police arrived, they chanted, “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
The Dream Defenders, a group that organized the protest, said in a post on Twitter that they were demanding a federal investigation into the death of Israel Hernandez-Llach, an 18-year-old graffiti artist who was killed last year by a Miami Beach police officer who shot him with a Taser stun gun.
The protesters, who demanded investigations of police departments serving the Miami area, stayed in the lobby as part of their effort to request a meeting with Wifredo A. Ferrer, the United States Attorney for the Southern district in Florida.
They just locked us out of the lobby and 8 heroic people stayed. WE WILL BE HEARD. #handsup http://t.co/Q7zrlx3S7G
　 The Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) 14 Aug 14
Members of the group said the deaths of Mr. Hernandez-Llach and Michael Brown, the 18-year-old who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, revealed the heavy-handed police tactics used around the country.
The shooting of Mr. Brown followed the death of Eric Garner, 43, in New York City and John Crawford, 22, in Beaverton, Ohio; it was followed by the death of Ezell Ford, 24, in Los Angeles.
The group also wanted the Mr. Ferrer’s office to investigate the death of Danny Cruz, a 16-year-old who was shot and killed by a police officer inside a gas station in Miami after the clerk pressed a panic button. The police said they found a gun in the boy’s jacket.
We see that the crisis in #Ferguson is connected to NY, to Ohio, to CA and here in Miami. #handsup
　 The Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) 14 Aug 14
We are demanding a federal investigation into the murder of Israel Hernandez and an investigation of Miami Beach Police. #handsup
　 The Dream Defenders (@Dreamdefenders) 14 Aug 14
When the protesters did not leave, police handcuffed the doors and later the protesters.
　 Ashley Southall
10:15 P.M. | Scenes from Vigils Shared on Social Media
Thousands of people in cities across the country attended peaceful vigils Thursday night to remember Michael Brown, an unarmed young black man shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo., on Saturday.
Many people shared images from vigils on Twitter.
Wow, Times Square is getting packed by supports for Ferguson http://t.co/F2Ufq9aaPj
　 Brad Sams (@bdsams) 15 Aug 14
Silent vigil at #NMOS14 Union Square, NYC http://t.co/G90J4qQM1s
　 Micah Sifry (@Mlsif) 14 Aug 14
Police at #NMOS14 Philly conspicuously absent. hundreds here now reading the names of POC murdered by police http://t.co/1zZmR6ZTxk
　 Kate Goodman (@kateagoodman) 14 Aug 14
At #NMOS14 here in Houston with the kiddo and @xymarla. http://t.co/SIQ0Cdq6L4
　 the erin e (@likepenguins) 14 Aug 14
#NMOS14 in my city 　 Des Moines, Iowa #DMI #Ferguson http://t.co/nFQxGdz9rl
　 #BaelessKay (@Kayluhhve) 15 Aug 14
@FeministaJones Thank you for organizing this movement! San Antonio stood with #Ferguson tonight. #NMOS14 http://t.co/sahcG2yH1n
　 Filibusta Rhymes (@Ghanadianbacon) 15 Aug 14
The organizers #NMOS14 Denver http://t.co/8bCfXDzFKQ
　 Monique Collins (@moniquekcollins) 14 Aug 14
9:00 P.M. | Family of Michael Brown Attends St. Louis Vigil
The family of Michael Brown attended a vigil in St. Louis on Thursday night, where a cousin, Eric Davis, spoke to CNN as the mother of Mr. Brown, Lesley McSpadden, stood at his side.
“Michael, was a funny, gentle soul,” Mr. Davis told CNN. “He always made you laugh and smile. He was a big guy in stature but when he opened his mouth, he had a quiet voice.”
Mr. Davis expressed frustration with local police officials for not being transparent about the investigation into the shooting. He said that family members spoke with Eric Holder Jr., the attorney general of the United States, today but he declined to comment about the discussion.
“At the present time, we have no trust in the Ferguson Police Department, Mr. Davis said. “They have not been transparent. We’re still looking for answers. They have not been transparent in any shape, form or fashion. We’re in the dark and that’s hard to do when you lose a child, especially your first born.”
The mother of Michael Brown attending a memorial gathering for her son in downtown St Louis http://t.co/KGfeQcOvGn
　 Aleem Maqbool (@AleemMaqbool) 15 Aug 14
Michael Brown’s mother is here, totally overcome. Many yells of support. #MikeBrown #NMOS14 http://t.co/AvcTqgCO3G
　 Kelly Moffitt (@stlbizkmoffitt) 14 Aug 14
7:47 P.M. | Live Video of Vigil in Ferguson, Mo.
The Fox affiliate in St. Louis is providing live video from Ferguson, Mo., where people have gathered for a vigil, one of dozens of vigils drawing huge crowds across the country.
7:30 P.M. | Moment of Silence Observed
At 7:20 p.m. Eastern, people around the country observed a moment of silence at vigils held from Boston to San Francisco.
Many of those attending vigils raised their arms as part of a campaign on social media called Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.
Moment of silence observed with 90 cities around the world #NMOS14 SF http://t.co/4bZs0AXkED
　 #Ferguson (@non_seq) 14 Aug 14
At #NMOS14 here in Houston with the kiddo and @xymarla. http://t.co/SIQ0Cdq6L4
　 the erin e (@likepenguins) 14 Aug 14
Crowd has swelled to thousands for moment of silence in Boston. #NMOS14 #HandsUpDontShoot http://t.co/D8fNZAvYpM
　 Collin Rees (@collinrees) 14 Aug 14
7:04 P.M. | Crowds Gather in Cities Across Country for Vigils
At the #NMOS14 vigil for victims of police brutality, Union Square, NYC http://t.co/xzdJXOg4P3
　 Micah Sifry (@Mlsif) 14 Aug 14
No justice! No peace! #NMOS14 Chicago getting started! http://t.co/drPFceQDy0
　 Suey Park (@suey_park) 14 Aug 14
Malcolm X Park #nmos14 http://t.co/fMs4H1Aav7
　 Veronica (@Dizzyluv25) 14 Aug 14
@caulkthewagon @jaykelly26 @OccupyRene #NMOS14 #NoJusticeNoPeace There’s a good turn out on #BostonCommon http://t.co/HP059dJ5Kl
　 John Stephen Dwyer (@JSDwyer) 14 Aug 14
6:13 P.M. | Vigils Planned Thursday Night Across the Country
At your #NMOS14 vigil today don’t forget to remind people that this doesn’t end with the vigil. We won’t stop until there is change!
　 NMOS14 (@NMOS14) 14 Aug 14
As our colleague Tanzina Vega reports, organizers are planning vigils starting 7 p.m. Eastern, Thursday in more than 90 cities around the country to commemorate victims of police brutality.
Most of the events were organized on social media by a loose network of Twitter and Facebook users under the hashtag #NMOS14, which stands for National Moment of Silence.
A Facebook page was also created to list events.
Organizers asked participants to join them in “peaceful vigils honoring the innocent lives lost.” They asked people to wear a red ribbon or bandanna and to observe a “moment of silence” starting at 7:20 p.m. Eastern.
Organizers in Washington, D.C. and Chicago are expecting the largest crowds.
5:34 P.M. | New Police Commander Promises Different Approach
Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, appointed by the governor to supervise security efforts in Ferguson, said he would be taking a different policing approach with protesters starting Thursday night.
Captain Johnson, who is black and grew up in the area, said he planned to meet with demonstrators on Thursday evening. “My boots will be on the ground,” he said.
“I understand the anger and fear the citizens of Ferguson are feeling, and they’ve been heard,” he said. “I plan on walking myself to the QuickTrip, which has been called Ground Zero, and talking to folks myself.”
He added, “We will have a different approach today.”
In response to