Ferguson streets 'calmer' two nights after controversial ruling

The midwest town saw large-scale protests following a grand jury decision not to prosecute a white police officer for the killing of an unarmed black teenager

Protesters demanded justice for Mike Brown
Protesters demanded justice for Mike Brown

The protests in the streets of the midwestern U.S. town of Ferguson, Missouri, are reported to have died down, following two nights of unrest over a grand jury decision not to prosecute a white police officer in the shooting dead of an unarmed black teenager.

A heavy police presence, snow and the upcoming celebrations for Thanksgiving are thought to have been factors in the smaller crowds.

Hundreds of people had demonstrated in front of the St. Louis City Hall on Wednesday, chanting “Shame, Shame” and police had arrested three people for failing to disperse. One person has been charged with assault.

 The August shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson had  inflamed tensions in Ferguson and raised concerns about police violence and racial discrimination in the mostly black St. Louis suburb.

Earlier this week, a grand jury decided there was no probable cause to indict Wilson, who says he feared for his life during the confrontation with Brown. Wilson told the media on Tuesday that he has a clean conscience "because I know I did my job right."

Protesters across the country have used the case to highlight similar instances in which they say laws are not applied fairly towards African Americans.