So the protests in Ferguson, Missouri have escalated again. Erupting after the grand
jury verdict into the case of a white police officer Darren Wilson who shot an unarmed
black man Michael Brown.
The protests rippled across North America with marches in New York City
Washington and California.
Police were out in riot gear, the National Guard brought their big military in and there
were plenty of standoffs with protestors.
But there were some other things that were happening that we think you would be shocked by
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It wasn't a surprise when the tear gas started to be used. Protesters were expecting it and
many came with masks to try and protect themselves. Yet there were many cases of people suffering
the effects even though they had.
But something that caused even more anger was that those in the Makabe coffee house
on Arsenal Street appeared to be targeted too. Directly or indirectly.
Naturally a place to gather, it was here where people congregated to hear the decision of
the grand jury. And it was here from where many went out on the streets to protest.
But as the tear gas filled the air they sought refuge back at the coffee house thinking they
would be safe on private property.
Witnesses said multiple tear gas canisters were thrown inside in a move described as
"incredibly provocative"
This video shows people suffering the after effects and eventually they all had to leave....but
not without a Ferguson chant being shouted as they exited.
Live-blogging, live video feeds. People were giving a running commentary on what was happening
in Ferguson and where.
It created a picture of nights and days of moving protest, confrontations with police,
observations of the military might which was at odds with protesters' mainly peaceful words and chants.
But for some that picture was kind of clouded by social media - their vehicle to communicate freely.
For Twitter user and activist on the ground Deray McKesson, his pictures started to show
a preview warning, with Twitter saying they "may be sensitve".
Although these were the kind of images being posted by many others which were viewable.
His pictures and videos were later watchable again without warning but he seemed to have
a different problem then.
The view of the protests has not just come from protesters but also police and St Louis
County Police's Twitter account has been tweeting.
They told us about the cars that were being torched, the bottles of urine that were being
flung around.
The account wasn't devoid of pictures - these showing the damage...but no mention of tear
gassing and injuries or the national guard.
Protestors claims the true picture was not being shown.
As police cars were rolled and burned so too were many businesses.
And there was looting.
Businesses were already suffering a slowdown in sales after the August protests erupted.
Now they're facing an even tougher time.
In 1992 after four white police officers were acquitted of the beating of Rodney King there
was widespread looting and burning.
A state of emergency was declared and some research has since said that the city lost $4bn in taxable sales.
However, it's not clear yet how much Ferguson will suffer now financially from its latest protests.
But amid the social unrest there were parts of the community already clearing up and businesses
being guarded around the clock.
Whether you consider looting a crime or a symptom of a broken system - in times of social
unrest there will be some kind of economic impact.
There has been anecdotal evidence from gun owners in Ferguson saying that they have seen
sales rise, since the shooting of Michael Brown.
Owners say many of the sales were by people who wanted to feel safer.
There have been reported rises in August when the initial protests started. Another in October and then
there was a further spike this month just before the grand jury announcement.
One shop owner who spoke to the Reuters news agency said he saw people coming in with fear in their eyes
and sorrow in their face.
Buying a firearm to defend themselves and their family.
Using their money to buy a gun not food or people wanting to protect their businesses.
The guns mainly being bought are ones being used for sporting events.
The tension in Ferguson - a predominately black city with a white-dominated power structure
- one of the factors in itself..continues to make national and international news.
And even though Michael Brown's family statement called for calm these tensions have their
roots in history which goes back decades to racial segregation and it's consequences