State of Emergency, Curfew Declared in Ferguson

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency today and imposed a curfew in the St. Louis suburb where a black teenager was shot to death by a white police officer a week ago. Nixon said that though many protesters were making themselves heard peacefully, the state would not allow a handful of looters to endanger the community. The curfew will run from midnight to 5am. "We must first have and maintain peace. This is a test. The eyes of the world are watching," Nixon said. "We cannot allow the ill will of the few to undermine the good will of the many."

Tensions in Ferguson flared late yesterday after police released the name of the officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown and documents alleging Brown robbed a store before he died. Nixon also says the US Department of Justice is beefing up its investigation of the shooting. Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who is in charge of security in Ferguson, said there were 40 FBI agents going door-to-door starting today, talking to people who might have seen or have information about the shooting. Nixon and Johnson spoke at a church in Ferguson, where they were interrupted repeatedly by people demanding justice and objecting to the curfew. Johnson assured those in attendance that police would communicate with protesters and give them ample opportunity to observe the curfew. (More Michael Brown stories.)