Pittsburghers React To Ferguson Decision In City-Wide Protests
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Pittsburghers have been speaking out after the Ferguson grand jury decision Monday night, joining in protests around the city.
For nearly two hours, a crowd of about 200 gathered outside the Federal Building to voice dismay over the decision not to file charges against Ferguson officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
Protesters chanted, "no justice, no peace."
The group stood in silence for four-and-a-half minutes to mark the hours Brown's body was in the street at the time of the shooting. Then one-by-one, supporters took to a mic to vent, galvanize and talk about a strategy.
"You have a police officer firing a dozen shots," said Dan Beeton of the North Side, "I mean, what's that all about? You have a grand jury process and it's secretive. Nobody knows what really happened in there."
Another protest started at 7 p.m. in Oakland -- several others were also planned around the city. Protesters were reportedly marching near Fifth Avenue and Halket Street in Oakland. The protesters chanted "don't shoot" as they marched.
RAW VIDEO: Protesters Marching In Oakland:
They marched down for a bit, stopping traffic and walking in between vehicles as they chanted. Police moved in on motorcycles and bicycles in cruisers.
"People here are angry, people here are hurt," said activist Julia Johnson. "And they need that to be felt, and we need to channel that energy for change."
They marched all the way to Carlow University, turning onto Fifth Avenue. They made their way through campus and back to their original location. A challenge in public safety and traffic control for police, but a spontaneous and necessary action according to organizers.
"I'm here because this matters," said one protester. "I'm 16 years old and this is something that's important to kids my age, so I'm here to represent a lot of kids, under 18, who really care about this."
Several dozen CAPA students also gathered for a sit-in at the school.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says more than 2,200 National Guardsmen will be in place in the region near Ferguson on Tuesday night in the event of more violence.
He said Tuesday that hundreds more will be deployed to Ferguson, where fires and looting erupted Monday night after the grand jury decision was announced.
The rest will be in a position to respond rapidly, if needed.
Nixon says 700 guardsmen were in the area on Monday night, when more than a dozen buildings were set on fire and otherwise vandalized.
Ferguson's mayor said earlier in the day that the National Guard wasn't deployed quickly enough as violent protests broke out.
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(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
