Ferguson Mayor James Knowles chastised the Missouri government’s response to the rioting in his town, stating that the National Guard wasn’t deployed fast enough to save many area businesses.
Mr. Knowles, speaking Tuesday during a late afternoon press conference, called the decision to delay the deployment “deeply disturbing.”
“The National Guard was not deployed in time to save all of our businesses,” he said. “Many of our residents are cleaning their businesses and wondering, “what happens tonight?’”
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon earlier in the day ordered additional National Guard members to the St. Louis suburb.
“We truly understand that the world is watching,” Mr. Knowles said.
The mayor was joined by several area church leaders who called for calm and an end to the rioting.
“As I watch the unraveling of our community last night … my heart was grieved by the site of the destruction,” said Bishop Calvin Scott, pastor of Believers Temple World Fellowship in St. Louis.
“My heart goes out to the community at large,” Mr. Scott said, adding that it would take “a concerted effort from all of us working together” to stop the violence and address racial tensions.
• Phillip Swarts can be reached at pswarts@washingtontimes.com.
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