Since the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., tweets, images and videos have spread quickly on social media, giving a glimpse of what it's like to be on the ground in the St. Louis suburb. Here's a look at some of the social sharing among citizens:
First news of the incident one week agao may have come from a Twitter user who claims to have witnessed and live-tweeted the shooting on Aug. 9.
*Warning: Tweets contain profane language and graphic images. CTV News has not been able to verify the contents of these tweets."
I JUST SAW SOMEONE DIE OMFG
— Bruh. (@TheePharoah) August 9, 2014
Im about to hyperventilate
— Bruh. (@TheePharoah) August 9, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BunpIZkCcAE3RWq.jpg2014
The same user tweeted out these two photos.
Police cars trampled the rose petals and candles at the memorial for #MikeBrown. pic.twitter.com/nb2fQSrkMX
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 10, 2014
Protests soon followed, with residents of Ferguson taking to the streets to demand justice for the slain teen. Antonio French, an alderman from St. Louis, captured photos and videos of some of the protests and posted them to his Twitter account.
When you bring a band to a protest... https://t.co/LimT6um9P2
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
Children chat: "Justice for Mike Brown!" https://t.co/HejVixnnMk
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 13, 2014
But images emerged on Wednesday showing heavily armed police officers confronting the protesters.
Some photos from last night in #Ferguson that I didn't get to post before I was arrested. pic.twitter.com/tww28XeS0m
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
Happening now in #Ferguson https://t.co/kUGwMiY8ia
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
Happening now in #Ferguson https://t.co/lLgNdgu8Yu
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014
Snipers rifles aimed at unarmed American citizens right now in St. Louis, MO. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/us4dcQ8CxC
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 13, 2014
Late Friday, following a brief period of relative peace after the Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of the security situation in Ferguson, some looters stormed several stores, including the same store Brown is accused of stealing a box of cigars from.
This is the store that Michael Brown was suspected of robbing. It has been looted tonight. #Ferguson https://t.co/zhob30TzuP
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 16, 2014
Another shot of looted liquor store. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/hD7Zj9W5d1
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 16, 2014
However, some residents and store-owners stepped in to protect the shops from the looters. Images of groups of protesters blocking the entrance ways also appeared on social media:
Someone tried to loot a store but the community came together and stopped anyone from taking anything. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/GyhyEGsNQf
— Kevin (@k_psi) August 16, 2014
I'm really proud of those who ran to block looters. They tried to redirect back to the chant "Hands up! Don't shoot!" pic.twitter.com/dARQl1xTyx
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 16, 2014
Store owners in #Ferguson say they're going to start defending themselves against looters. pic.twitter.com/YvP9xFEtA2
— Michael Calhoun (@michaelcalhoun) August 16, 2014
In this video, the residents protect a store from looters while chanting "I am Mike Brown!"
Protesters block looters. https://t.co/1lJIQCm6UQ
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 16, 2014
And on Saturday morning, photos emerged of residents pitching in to clean up the debris from Friday night's clashes.
SLU students Kyle Lawrence of #Ferguson & Melissa Price of St. Peters clear W Florissant of debris #MichaelBrown pic.twitter.com/mzD7pI37Gj
— stevegiegerich (@stevegiegerich) August 16, 2014