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POLICE FIRED TEAR gas last night in another night of unrest in the Missouri town where a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, just hours after President Barack Obama called for calm.
US National Guard troops rolled into Ferguson earlier in the day, but they kept a low profile as police in riot gear dispersed about 100 demonstrators around 11 pm (4am GMT), arresting several of them.
Several rounds of gunfire – described by a senior police officer as “potshots in the area” — were heard, adding to tension that has gripped this St Louis suburb since the fatal shooting of 18-year-old student Michael Brown.
His death, and the heavy-handed police response, has reignited a national debate about race and law enforcement in the United States.
Obama, the nation’s first African-American president, said he was sending Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson tomorrow as Washington pursues a civil rights investigation into the case.
Obama said there was no excuse for local police to employ “excessive force” and urged the state of Missouri to make only “limited” use of the National Guard.
Arrival of National Guard
By late afternoon, about 200 Missouri National Guard soldiers arrived in Ferguson, with snipers seen posted on rooftops near a police command center. The troops are operating under Missouri Highway Patrol supervision.
The reinforcements allowed State Governor Jay Nixon to lift an overnight curfew, but tempers were still running high amid controversy over Brown’s death.
“They’re supposed to protect the American citizens, but they’re fighting a war with unarmed citizens,” said Ron Henry, who wore a T-shirt with the phrase “stop killing us.”
Amid the trouble, Getty Images photographer Scott Olson was arrested for unknown reasons, the agency said. He was later released.
As night fell, several hundred people took part in fresh protests after police with plastic handcuffs moved crowds of demonstrators into designated zones to clear a main street in the town that had been the scene of violent protests.
Protesters were not allowed stop and gather, and were directed to keep moving.
Residents were on edge, after the previous night saw rioters loot stores and throw Molotov cocktails.
Brown was shot dead in broad daylight on a residential street last Saturday by Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white police officer.
A forensic pathologist retained by the victim’s family revealed that the student had been shot at least six times — twice in the head.
Different versions of the shooting have emerged, with police sources saying there was a scuffle during which Brown tried to seize the policeman’s weapon, while witnesses have alleged that Brown had his hands up and was not resisting when he was shot.
Three autopsies
The Washington Post said traces of marijuana were found in Brown’s system.
A total of three autopsies have been requested — by local authorities, the family and the Justice Department.
Officials told news media that a Missouri grand jury could hear evidence in the case as early as Wednesday.
“Gulf of mistrust”
Obama warned of a “gulf of mistrust” between residents and police in many cities and towns across America, particularly in those where racial minorities feel excluded from opportunities for a better life.
“To a community in Ferguson that is rightly hurting and looking for answers, let me call once again for us to seek some understanding rather than simply holler at each other,” he said.
In too many communities, too many young men of colour are left behind and seen only as objects of fear.
Former New York chief medical examiner Michael Baden, who examined Brown’s body on behalf of his family, said Monday he found no evidence of an alleged struggle between Brown and the officer.
Wilson is said to have been hurt in the incident, and Baden said that he had not examined the police officer.
The absence of gunpowder on Brown’s body indicated that the muzzle of the gun was probably at least a foot or two away — or as much as 10 metres — Baden added.
He stressed that his findings were preliminary.
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What a pity! The political class and the many chancers in public life have no one left who will challenge them. Time to circle the wagons.
As television in ireland continues to go down the road of the bland leading the bland,I think it’s safe to say we will won’t see his likes of Vincent anytime soon. Unless Gene Kerrigan fancies turning his hand to TV?
Vincent was the only one to ask the right questions and stick it to politicians and the like. Never one to be fobbed off. Well done
A cantankerous contrary old git. Never though he got the best out of his guests because they were constantly on edge with him.
@mickmc: like many of us he had a total aversion to the bullsh*t most politicians and media feed us with on a daily basis.
@mickmc: Which is to say what? He upset the politicians who are used to being given a verbal lap dance by the likes of Miriam O’Callaghan or Pat the plank???
@Martin Critten: Yes that’s true but I’m not sure his style of interviewing cut through it either. Sometimes you have to be clever about these things and tease the issue out unknowns to the interviewee.
@mickmc: Put your money where your mouth is and apply to replace him, mick
@Tony Skillington: If he was doing his job properly he wouldn’t be there to upset anyone, just give sensible debate to the issues of the day. VB was only interested in himself getting points across.
@mickmc: hi joan !
@Chris Kirk: I disagree completely, Chris. It was VB’s job to hold these people accountable, not just to give them another platform like they already had on RTE. If he wasn’t grilling them and making them squirm (knowing what we now know about the level of corruption in government), then he wasn’t doing his job. It was a very valuable service he provided in tandem with exemplary journalistic skills.
It was his job to expose BS. If he never upset anyone, the whole program would’ve been pointless.
@Joe Phillips: he held no one to account, he was making tv, nothing more nothing less. It was mildly entertaining but nothing more.
Listening to you would would swear it was the public accounts committee he was running.
@james connolly: no offence, james, but you’re not a reasonable commentator and I don’t know how to talk to you without paper and crayons.
@Joe Phillips: Try balloons and buckets of confetti , he seems to like clowns .
@Chris Kirk: RTE have been giving ‘sensible debates’ for 30 years and are frightened of upsetting the hand that feeds them. VB while acerbic in his questioning at times, does what any good journalist should do…shake up the political elite and cut through the horse $h1t that RTE seem only too happy to dole out. He is a breath of fresh air in public broadcasting and I applaud him for being so.
@Joe Phillips: Did I in any way suggest I had the knowledge or the skill to do his job. You don’t have to be good at a job to recognise when someone else is doing a equally bad job too. I don’t think I ever make it as a premier league footballer at this stage, but that doesn’t say I wouldn’t recognise a bad one when I’d see him.
Thanks Vinny for making politics interesting and being our cat among the pigeons.
TheJournal.ie, how many articles have you published on this guy’s last show? I’m not sure you’ve got the finger on the pulse of the nation on this one.
Yes, acknowledged it but you’re milking a very average news story over the past three days.
Why did Glenda feel the need to capture the choir on her smartphone? Could she not have merely recorded the bleedin’ show? Yours, etc.
@shouldweallbe: I agree! It just seems to be an automatic reaction for so many. They miss the actual core of what’s happening while trying to get a balanced photo on the phone! But what I couldn’t take my eyes off was Mary Lou smiling! She looked so different and quite lovely!!!!
I didn’t bother watching it after his vomit inducing lovefest with the Leo the previous night.
@Dante Marquinhos: That’ll show him who’s boss!
@Honeybadger197:Oh I’d say you showed yourself who’s boss watching Leo the other night. That’s the thing about you Blueshirts, were other political supporters just follow their respective parties, you Blueshirts treat them like they are a boyband and you are a bunch of 14 year old girls with a crush.
Extremely bizarre and disturbing behaviour from supporters of a political party.
@Dante Marquinhos: Dry your eyes Dante. I’m sure in time you’ll forgive Vincent for talking to a Taoiseach and making you all upset and nauseous. I hope this helps x
http://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-vomiting-remedies
@Dante Marquinhos: Talks about lovefest between presenter and politician, talks about sexual infatuation with politicians regularly… Methinks the Dante doth protest too much! Tell me Dante, how did this predilection for politicians first present itself?
@Dante Marquinhos: “Psychological projection is a defense mechanism people subconsciously employ in order to cope with difficult feelings or emotions. Psychological projection involves projecting undesirable feelings or emotions ontosomeone else, rather than admitting to or dealing with the unwanted feelings”
Its not your fault Dante. Its not your fault.
@Honeybadger197: Good, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Well done Honey, you’re on the road to recovery. Best of luck!
@Dante Marquinhos: Yes, would you please admit you have a problem.
@Dante Marquinhos: Few things in life as funny as a triggered shinnerbot. You never disappoint.
@Dante Marquinhos: Yep , disappointed with that one myself , perhaps if Vincent will do “one offs” in the future he can do a real interview with this smarmy git
The underclasses though VB shows was about politics, everyone else saw it for the entertainment show it was.
@james connolly: VB having a laugh at everyone elses expense
@Chris Kirk: exactly.
#gutted
About as politically astute as my dead hamster, give me Andrew Marr and Andrew Neil any day of the week.
I hope he still pops up on TV3 or somewhere else from time to time. It would help with the DTs!
I liked his no nonsense couldn’t give a flying f*ck who you are approach.
So apart from Gene Kerrigan what other journalist do we have that has the balls to take on the establishment .(Sorry ladies not meant to be a misogynist comment )
Good riddance. A rude belligerent individual with no redeeming features. His interruptions made Cathal Mc Coille look like an amateur.
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