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Clashes break out at Ferguson meeting amid racial tensions

Police arrest a protester outside the Ferguson Community Center in Ferguson, Mo., on Thursday after an informal question and answer session between locals and Mayor James Knowles was marred by fighting.

Clashes took place during a packed community meeting in Ferguson, Missouri, highlighting the racial tensions still present nearly one year after an unarmed African-American teen was shot and killed by a white police officer.

At least three people were arrested Thursday outside the Ferguson Community Center after an informal question and answer session between local residents and Ferguson Mayor James Knowles was interrupted by protesters, officials said.

The tense meeting took place early and Knowles quickly fled the scene when a physical encounter turned into a fight, which officials said spilled outside the community center.

An ambulance was called for a 14-year-old girl with asthma who was having trouble breathing.

About 20 protesters stood outside, shouting "Recall Knowles! Recall Knowles!" Police stationed at the entrance allowed the protesters inside and the meeting quickly turned into chaos.

"If this is their idea of change everything just got worse," protester and Ferguson resident Tony Rice told reporters. "It began when a white lady knocked a cell phone out of a protester's hand."

Knowles arranged the meeting for residents to discuss a variety of issues, including economic and racial ones, that have arisen in the year since 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed in Ferguson by officer Darren Wilson.

Wilson was eventually acquitted of Brown’s killing by a St. Louis County grand jury but resigned from the force.

Brown’s death on August 9, 2014 was part of a series of deadly encounters since last year between unarmed African-Americans and white police officers that sparked protests in many cities.

 


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