Just moments ago, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency
for Missouri, giving the National Guard full permission to help police
the state as residents and observers across the country await a grand
jury decision on whether Ferguson police offer Darren Wilson will face
indictment for the
August 9 shooting death of teenager Mike Brown in Ferguson.
His declaration follows below the fold:
WHEREAS, the City of Ferguson and the St. Louis region have experienced periods of unrest over the past three months; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Justice and St. Louis County
authorities are conducting separate criminal investigations into the
facts surrounding the death of Michael Brown; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Justice and St. Louis County
authorities could soon announce the findings of their independent
criminal investigations; and
WHEREAS, regardless of the outcomes of the federal and state criminal
investigations, there is the possibility of expanded unrest; and
WHEREAS, the State of Missouri will be prepared to appropriately respond to any reaction to these announcements; and
WHEREAS, our citizens have the right to peacefully assemble and
protest and the State of Missouri is committed to protecting those
rights; and
WHEREAS, our citizens and businesses must be protected from violence and damage; and
WHEREAS, an invocation of the provisions of Sections 44.010 through
44.130, RSMo, is appropriate to ensure the safety and welfare of our
citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and Laws of the State of Missouri, including Sections 44.010 through
44.130, RSMo, do hereby declare a State of Emergency exists in the State
of Missouri.
I further direct the Missouri State Highway Patrol together with the
St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police
Department to operate as a Unified Command to protect civil rights and
ensure public safety in the City of Ferguson and the St. Louis region.
I further order that the St. Louis County Police Department shall
have command and operational control over security in the City of
Ferguson relating to areas of protests, acts of civil disobedience and
conduct otherwise arising from such activities.
I further order that the Unified Command may exercise operational
authority in such other jurisdictions it deems necessary to protect
civil rights and ensure public safety and that other law enforcement
agencies shall assist the Unified Command when so requested and shall
cooperate with operational directives of the Unified Command.
I further order, pursuant to Section 41.480, RSMo, the Adjutant
General of the State of Missouri, or his designee, to forthwith call and
order into active service such portions of the organized militia as he
deems necessary to protect life and property and assist civilian
authorities and it is further directed that the Adjutant General or his
designee, and through him, the commanding officer of any unit or other
organization of such organized militia so called into active service
take such action and employ such equipment as may be necessary to carry
out requests processed through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and
ordered by the Governor of the state to protect life and property and
support civilian authorities.
This Order shall expire in thirty days unless extended in whole or in part by subsequent Executive Order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be
affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of
Jefferson, on this 17th day of November, 2014.
Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
Governor
Jason Kander
Secretary of State
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