After four days of demonstrations against the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, what started as a peaceful assembly turned sour. Late on Wednesday night and in the early hours of Thursday morning, police fired several rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. Two journalists , as well as St. Louis alderman Antonio French , have been arrested.
The images below are reminiscent of what we’re used to seeing from Ukraine, Egypt, or Venezuela. They show a new America with an increasingly militarized police force .
Police forces face demonstrators protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown on Aug. 13, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on Saturday. Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb, is experiencing its fourth day of violent protests since the killing.
Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
A demonstrator, protesting the death of teenager Michael Brown, stands his ground as police fire tear gas on Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
A protester throws back a smoke bomb while clashing with police in Ferguson on Aug. 13, 2014.
Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Demonstrators protest the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Demonstrators protest the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 13, 2014 in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Demonstrators, protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown, scramble for cover as police fire tear gas on Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Police stand watch as demonstrators protest the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Police stand watch as demonstrators protest the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 13, 2014 in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
A demonstrator pleads with another to walk away after being ordered off the street by police on Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Police stand watch as demonstrators protest the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Demonstrators protest the killing of Michael Brown outside Greater St. Marks Family Church while Brown’s family, civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, and a crowd of guests met inside to discuss the killing on Aug. 12, 2014, in St Louis.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Read the rest of Slate’s coverage of the protests in Ferguson .