http://www.king5.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/22/ferguson-calm-officer-support/14439979/
As calm remained Friday on the streets where Michael Brown's death brought angry protests, fundraising for the officer who killed the teen ended after more than a quarter of a million dollars was collected.
On the streets of Ferguson, a collective anger that exploded into almost two weeks of protests and riots gave way to a more tranquil environment. On Friday morning, the town of 21,000 seemed to have some of its bustle back.
Traffic moved briskly along West Florissant Avenue, site of the protests that have unfolded here. Businesses opened and people patronized them. The police remained, but mostly keeping a low profile, sitting in patrol cars off the street.
City buses rolled along the busy corridor and commuters carrying shopping bags waited for them.
More than 300 faith leaders from across the country on Friday issued an open letter to the mayor, law enforcement officers and citizens of the community, condemning abusive police practices and calling for change.
Early Friday and late Thursday night, the atmosphere was more reflective of a street fair.
"It was another good night,'' Missouri State Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said at a 1 a.m. briefing. "We're heading toward a sense of peace for our community. Through 12:30 a.m., there were just seven arrests, including five for failing to disperse.
Gov. Jay Nixon sent troops into Ferguson Monday to protect state troopers and police trying to cope with increasingly violent streets demonstrations after the death of the unarmed teen.
The spot where Brown, 18, was killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson Aug. 9 was quiet. A preliminary autopsy found Brown was shot six times, including twice in the head.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department was "keeping all options open" in its review of the Ferguson shooting, including a possible examination of whether the local police department engaged in a pattern of excessive conduct.
Meanwhile, a new national Pew Research Center poll finds that black and white Americans are sharply divided over the broader racial implications of the Brown shooting and its aftermath. Among blacks, 80% say the shooting "raises important issues about race," and 18% say "race is getting more attention than it deserves."
Just 37% of whites polled say the case raises important racial issues,and 47% say race is getting more attention than it deserves. The poll of 1,000 adults was conducted Aug. 14-17 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points.
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