A handful of residents gathered early Tuesday evening at the corner of Genesee and Pleasant Streets in Utica to protest the grand jury's decision in Ferguson, Missouri not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

The group consisted of fewer than a dozen people who left their post at the busy intersection, encouraged by the honking of horns by supportive drivers, to march down Pleasant Street.

Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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The quiet but organized protest comes after Officer Darren Wilson spoke exclusively with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.   During that interview Wilson said he regretted the loss of Michael Brown's life, but his conscience was clean because, he said, "I know I did my job right."

Wilson had been placed on administrative leave immediately following the incident on August 9, 2014.  He told Stephanopoulos that the shooting of Brown marked the first time that he had used his gun during his time on the Ferguson force, which amounted to less than three years.  Prior to that he had served two years in Jennings, Missouri.

Wilson's comments drew little feeling from the protestors, who held signs with the words, "Indict America," "Black Lives Matter," "We Want Justice from  St. Louis to Utica," and "He Was Somebody's Baby."

Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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Earlier this afternoon the Associated Press reported that Ferguson Mayor James Knowles criticized a decision by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to delay the deployment of additional National Guard troops that were to be deployed to Ferguson.

Photo Credit: Scott Olson, Getty Images
Photo Credit: Scott Olson, Getty Images
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Knowles called the decision "deeply disturbing."

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon after rioting in Ferguson 25 November 2014                              Photo Credit: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon after rioting in Ferguson 25 November 2014                              Photo Credit: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
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About an hour later the AP reported that Nixon said that approximately 2,200 National Guardsmen would be available in Ferguson tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

Public reaction remains mixed, especially following the release of a New York Times video from last night where Michael Brown's stepfather, Louis Head, calling for protestors to "Burn this Mother------ down; burn this b---- down!" following St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch's announcement last night.

Ferguson is bracing itself for more unrest this evening.  Protestors in Utica were not in agreement on whether they will be out again on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, in New York City tonight CBS News is reporting that protestors have blocked off one lane of the Lincoln Tunnel and forced the closure of both sides of the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive ("FDR Drive").

 


 


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