WaPo | Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) called the situation in Ferguson, Mo.,
"deeply troubling" late Wednesday and announced he would change his
schedule in order to visit the city on Thursday, signaling a new, more
intense level of engagement than in previous days.
“The worsening
situation in Ferguson is deeply troubling, and does not represent who
we are as Missourians or as Americans," Nixon said in a statement.
"While we all respect the solemn responsibility of our law enforcement
officers to protect the public, we must also safeguard the rights of
Missourians to peaceably assemble and the rights of the press to report
on matters of public concern."
Nixon said he is "committed to
ensuring the pain of last weekend’s tragedy does not continue to be
compounded by this ongoing crisis. Once again, I ask that members of the
community demonstrate patience and calm while the investigation
continues, and I urge law enforcement agencies to keep the peace and
respect the rights of residents and the press during this difficult
time."
