While President Obama delivered his response to the decision by the grand jury in Ferguson not to indict Officer Darren Wilson, Fox News offered a split screen view of events on the ground. At one particular moment, around 9:15 p.m. CT, as the president condemned violent and destructive demonstrations, protestors could be seen attempting to turn over an already vandalized police car.
Reports from the ground said that some demonstrators hurled bottles and rocks at police and in later footage, fires set by protestors could be seen near the police car. The vandalism of and around the police car was eventually broken up when police launched tear gas canisters around the area.
In his remarks, Obama said that while he does not think that racial discrimination by law enforcement is happening in “the majority of communities, or the vast majority of law enforcement officials,” discrimination and feelings of discrimination are "real issues" that needs to be addressed.
The president then specifically called for non-violent responses, saying that “throwing bottles,” “smashing car windows,” "vandaliz[ing] property," and “hurting anybody” were ultimately destructive rather than constructive acts. As the president spoke the lines, some of the very acts occurred on the screen:
What we need to do is understand [racial issues concerning law enforcement] and figure out how do we make more progress. And that can be done.
That won't be done by throwing bottles. That won't be done by smashing car windows. That won't be done by using this as an excuse to vandalize property. And it certainly won't be done by hurting anybody.
So to those in Ferguson, there are ways of channeling your concerns constructively, and there are ways of channeling your concerns destructively. Michael Brown's parents understand what it means to be constructive. The vast majority of peaceful protesters, they understand it as well.
Those of you who are watching tonight understand that there's never an excuse for violence, particularly when there are a lot of people and good will out there willing to work on these issues. On the other end those who are only interested in focusing on the violence and just want the problem to go away need to recognize that we do have work to do here.
Several news sources are reporting that gun shots were fired at separate times after the announcement of the grand jury's decision. Those reports are yet to be confirmed.
Update: St. Louis County Police have confirmed that gun shots were fired near the department headquarters.
Reports from the ground said that some demonstrators hurled bottles and rocks at police and in later footage, fires set by protestors could be seen near the police car. The vandalism of and around the police car was eventually broken up when police launched tear gas canisters around the area.
In his remarks, Obama said that while he does not think that racial discrimination by law enforcement is happening in “the majority of communities, or the vast majority of law enforcement officials,” discrimination and feelings of discrimination are "real issues" that needs to be addressed.
The president then specifically called for non-violent responses, saying that “throwing bottles,” “smashing car windows,” "vandaliz[ing] property," and “hurting anybody” were ultimately destructive rather than constructive acts. As the president spoke the lines, some of the very acts occurred on the screen:
What we need to do is understand [racial issues concerning law enforcement] and figure out how do we make more progress. And that can be done.
That won't be done by throwing bottles. That won't be done by smashing car windows. That won't be done by using this as an excuse to vandalize property. And it certainly won't be done by hurting anybody.
So to those in Ferguson, there are ways of channeling your concerns constructively, and there are ways of channeling your concerns destructively. Michael Brown's parents understand what it means to be constructive. The vast majority of peaceful protesters, they understand it as well.
Those of you who are watching tonight understand that there's never an excuse for violence, particularly when there are a lot of people and good will out there willing to work on these issues. On the other end those who are only interested in focusing on the violence and just want the problem to go away need to recognize that we do have work to do here.
Several news sources are reporting that gun shots were fired at separate times after the announcement of the grand jury's decision. Those reports are yet to be confirmed.
Update: St. Louis County Police have confirmed that gun shots were fired near the department headquarters.