By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
The governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency Monday, and activated the National Guard ahead of a looming grand jury decision.
Gov. Jay Nixon first cited “periods of unrest over the past three months” among his reasons for taking the action, and added “regardless of the outcomes of the federal and state criminal investigations, there is the possibility of expanded unrest.”
The move may indicate that a conclusion to three months of deliberation is nearing. Tensions have risen in recent weeks amid rumors that the grand jury was set to decide if charges would be brought against white Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson for the Aug. 9 shooting death of unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown.
The St. Louis County prosecutor has said that he expects that a decision will be reached by month's end.
A grand jury is a group of people who decide if there is enough evidence to charge an individual with a crime. They are separate from a jury that would then decide if Wilson is guilty of any charges that may be brought against him.
The National Guard was previously activated amidst civil unrest in August, but was largely relegated to securing a media and police zone several blocks away from the site of mass protests.
Sparked by Brown’s death, those demonstrations were largely peaceful, but occasionally turned into scenes of looting and violence as demonstrators clashed with heavily armed police.
Nixon said that citizens have the right to peaceful protest, but “our citizens and businesses must be protected from violence and damage.”
His executive order directs the St. Louis County Police Department to have operational command over security in Ferguson should protests and acts of civil disobedience occur. The order expires in 30 days unless it is extended by an additional order.
The Anadolu Agency previously reported that business owners in Ferguson have secured their property, and gun sales have been on the rise as area residents prepare for the worst.
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