by Our Foreign Desk

AUTHORITIES in Ferguson, Missouri, declared a state of emergency on Monday night in the face of civil rights protests.

Called by St Louis County authorities, it allows county police chief Jon Melmar to take control of the city’s force.

Hundreds of people gathered along West Florissant Avenue, the site of massive protests last year after unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot dead by a Ferguson police officer.

Mr Belmar promised to stamp down on the demonstration. “They’re not going to take the street tonight. That’s not going to happen,” he said.

Police arrested more than 20 people outside the local court in the afternoon, including academic Cornel West, We The Protesters leader DeRay McKesson and other leading members of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Days of protests to mark the anniversary of the killing of Mr Brown ended in more violence when police shot and critically wounded 18-year-old Tyrone Harris on Sunday night.

Police alleged that Mr Harris was one of six people who fired shots during street protests — a claim his father rubbished.

“My son was running to the police to ask for help, and he was shot,” stormed Tyrone Harris Snr.

“It’s all a bunch of lies. They’re making my son look like a criminal.”

He said his son was a close friend of Mr Brown and was in Ferguson to pay his respects.