With the grand jury decision on the police shooting of Ferguson’s Michael Brown set to drop at a moment’s notice, Missouri governor Jay Nixon has decided to declare a statewide emergency and activate the national guard.
Newsweek reports that the Democratic governor signed the executive order on Monday, in which he “hereby declare[s] a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri.” Widespread protests are expected if Ferguson police officer Darrell Wilson is not indicted, with many worried about a repeat of the violence that rocked the St. Louis suburb last summer.
The governor explained his action in an accompanying statement. “As part of our ongoing efforts to plan and be prepared for any contingency, it is necessary to have these resources in place in advance of any announcement of the grand jury’s decision,” he wrote. “The National Guard is well-suited to provide security at command posts, fire stations and other locations that will free up law enforcement officers to remain focused on community policing and protecting constitutional rights.”