Dozens of protesters have been arrested in Ferguson, Missouri during demonstrations over a jury decision not to indict an officer for murder of unarmed Michael Brown, police officials said.
St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said that the protests were “probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August” after police officer Darren Wilson shot dead Brown.
The protests erupted Monday night after St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch said that Wilson would not be indicted and that he would not even face charges for killing the 18-year-old Brown.
Following the decision, angry demonstrators took to the streets across the country, throwing bottles, shattering windows, setting businesses on fire and vandalizing cars with an officer shot at 11.30 pm in Ferguson.
Several businesses and a row of cars at a car dealership have been set on fire so far, and firefighters were not able to respond to one major fire because of gunshots.
During a press briefing, President Barack Obama urged protesters to be calm and said these protests are “an understandable reaction.”
Obama also acknowledged that the United States is suffering from racial discrimination.
“The fact is, in too many parts of this country, a deep distrust exists between law enforcement and communities of color. Some of this is the result of the legacy of racial discrimination in this country.”