Ahead Of Michael Brown Grand Jury Decision, Governor Declares State of Emergency In Missouri
Gov. Jay Nixon has just declared an official state of emergency across the entire state of Missouri, ahead of the expected results of the grand jury’s decision.
Last week, Governor Jay Nixon in a press conference announced he would do everything in his power to “protect” the citizens of Missouri, especially in St. Louis County – which includes Ferguson – from violence. The Missouri governor appears to be anticipating that police officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted by a grand jury. That decision is expected any day now, possibly even today.
Today, the Governor declared a state of emergency exists across the entire state, ahead of the grand jury’s announcement.
In a formal announcement that sounds more like a proclamation, Nixon announces, “I…Â do hereby declare a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri.”
I further direct the Missouri State Highway Patrol together with the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to operate as a Unified Command to protect civil rights and ensure public safety in the City of Ferguson and the St. Louis region.
I further order that the St. Louis County Police Department shall have command and operational control over security in the City of Ferguson relating to areas of protests, acts of civil disobedience and conduct otherwise arising from such activities.
I further order that the Unified Command may exercise operational authority in such other jurisdictions it deems necessary to protect civil rights and ensure public safety and that other law enforcement agencies shall assist the Unified Command when so requested and shall cooperate with operational directives of the Unified Command.
That order allows the Missouri Attorney General to “call and order into active service such portions of the organized militia.”
There are some who believe the Governor’s heavy handedness is what contributed to an environment in which police brutality and an absence of civil rights has been the norm.Â
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Image via Flickr
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