FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Efforts by city leaders in Ferguson, Missouri, to repair the local government’s fractured relationship with its residents have gotten off to a rocky start at the first public meeting of elected officials since Michael Brown’s death.
The fatal shooting last month of the unarmed black 18-year-old by a white police officer exposed an undercurrent of racial unrest in the St. Louis suburb.
The Ferguson City Council announced a set of proposals in a press release Monday that include reducing the revenue from court fines and reforming court procedures. Critics say reliance on traffic fines to fund city services more heavily penalizes low-income defendants who can’t afford private attorneys and are often jailed for not promptly paying those fines.
The city also plans to establish a citizens’ review board to help guide the police department.
The proposals were being discussed at a meeting Tuesday night, but shortly after it started demonstrators stood up and chanted, “Shut it down!” while raising their hands in the air.
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APPHOTO MOJR114: Ferguson Mayor James Knowles speaks during a meeting of the Ferguson City Council Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The meeting is the first for the city council since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a city police officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (9 Sep 2014)
< APPHOTO MOJR112: A line of people wait to speak during a meeting of the Ferguson City Council Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The meeting is the first for the city council since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a city police officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (9 Sep 2014) < APPHOTO MOJR111: Angela Whitman listens along with a large audience during a meeting of the Ferguson City Council Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The meeting is the first for the city council since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a city police officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (9 Sep 2014) < APPHOTO MOJR107: People stand during a meeting of the Ferguson City Council Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The meeting is the first for the city council since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a city police officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (9 Sep 2014) < APPHOTO MOJR109: Larry Miller holds up his hands after speaking during a public comments portion of a meeting of the Ferguson City Council Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. The meeting is the first for the city council since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a city police officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (9 Sep 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.