Missouri Governor declares state of emergency ahead of Ferguson Decisions
NewsOne
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency Monday (Nov. 18, 2014) ahead the announcement of findings of the federal and St. Louis County investigations into the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed Black teenager killed by Ferguson, Mo. Police Officer Darren Wilson, according to an executive order.
“Regardless of the outcomes of the federal and state criminal investigations, there is the possibility of expanded unrest,” Nixon said in the order scheduled to expire in 30 days unless extended. “The state of Missouri will be prepared to appropriately respond to any reaction to these announcements.”
Additionally, Nixon ordered the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County Police Department, and 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.”
An announcement of the grand jury’s decision in the local case is expected any day now.
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