Elected leaders in the St. Louis suburb where an unarmed black 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer hoped to use their first public meeting since Michael Brown's death as a chance to promote community healing.
Instead, they were greeted Tuesday night with anger, outrage and warnings of voter retribution at the ballot box. Proposals to overhaul the municipal courts and create a citizen police review board were greeted warily, if not with outright skepticism.
"You've lost your authority to govern this community," said St. Louis activist John Chasnoff. "You're going to have to step aside peacefully if this community is going to heal."
Ferguson officials have pledged to boost minority hiring in a 53-person police force that has just three black officers, and to meet informally in city neighborhoods to promote a public dialogue.
But within minutes of the start of the City Council meeting, where the proposals were briefly discussed, several demonstrators stood up and shouted as the council tried to cover some routine business. Later, others stood and chanted, "Shut it down!" while raising their hands in the air. Protesters have used the gesture because several witnesses say Brown had raised his hands as officer Darren Wilson shot him.
The first person to take the microphone during the public comment period said he was there for the mayor's job. It was a theme echoed throughout, as speaker after speaker expressed doubt about the city's planned reforms - and anger at the government officials on the stage.
The meeting, held exactly one month after Brown's death, was held in a local church to accommodate a crowd of several hundred who had to walk through metal detectors at entrances guarded by a heavy police presence.
Several speakers reiterated plans to block part of Interstate 70 in Ferguson on Wednesday in an act of civil disobedience. Organizers say they want to bring rush-hour traffic to a standstill.
Brown's parents joined about 20 supporters and activists outside police headquarters earlier Tuesday to reiterate calls for Wilson's immediate arrest.
Brown family attorney Anthony Gray said enough witnesses have come forward to arrest Wilson, reports CBS St. Louis affiliate KMOV-TV.
"He should be in handcuffs, he should be photographed, he should be fingerprinted, and he should be booked immediately, and that's what this family is calling for," Gray said.
