Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                  Third Peaceful Night in US Town of Ferguson

   by VOA News

   The streets of the central U.S. town of Ferguson, Missouri have been
   peaceful for a third consecutive night as tensions between police and
   protesters continued to subside.

   The calm late Friday and early Saturday follows nearly two weeks of
   violence and unrest that erupted after a white police officer fatally
   shot an unarmed black teenager.

   The National Guard began pulling out of Ferguson Friday.

   Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ordered the removal of the National Guard,
   saying the situation had "greatly improved with fewer incidents of
   outside instigators interfering with peaceful protesters, and fewer
   acts of violence."

   The demonstrations have centered around the street where 18-year-old
   Michael Brown was killed on August 9.  Police say Brown and officer
   Darren Wilson were involved in a struggle, but witnesses say the
   shooting was unprovoked.  Wilson is on paid leave, with Brown's family
   and supporters calling for his arrest.

   Many have complained that the police response to the protests has been
   heavy-handed.

   More than a 150 people have been arrested in Ferguson since the
   protests began; most of them for failing to disperse at the request of
   police.

   Brown's shooting has raised allegations of institutionalized racism and
   excessive use of force by police.

   Two St. Louis area police officers have been suspended from their
   positions because of racially charged statements on the Internet.

   One of the officers, Matthew Pappert, complained on his Facebook page
   the protesters "should have been put down like rabid dogs" on the first
   night.

   A second officer, Dan Page, was relieved of his duties pending an
   internal review concerning a YouTube video in which he boasted about
   being a Jesus-loving "killer."

   The incidents have highlighted the racial divide in Ferguson, a largely
   black town where almost all the police force and local politicians are
   white.  Civil rights activists say Brown's death followed years of
   police targeting blacks.

   A grand jury has begun hearing evidence in the case and will determine
   whether to charge officer Wilson in the teen's death.  Considering the
   racial tensions of the case, the makeup of the grand jury - three
   blacks and nine whites - is being closely scrutinized.

   Some community residents say they are fearful anger could explode anew
   if the grand jury does not return a charge against Wilson.

   Brown's family and the protesters have called for the removal of
   prosecutor Bob McCulloch, expressing concerns he will be biased.
   McCulloch's father was a police officer killed in the line of duty by a
   black man.

   Meanwhile, the federal investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

   Brown's funeral is set for Monday.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/third-peaceful-night-in-us-town-of-fe
   rguson/2425573.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/third-peaceful-night-in-us-town-of-ferguson/2425573.html