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Missouri governor seeks more funding for state police, National Guard troops

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon called for a special state legislative session to address “critical funding” needs for the National Guard and state police a...
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(CNN) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon called for a special state legislative session to address “critical funding” needs for the National Guard and state police after violent protests in Ferguson this week.

In a late-night call with state legislative leaders Friday night, Nixon highlighted the session’s urgency to ensure Guard members are paid on December 15, his office said in a statement.

“Time is of the essence,” he said.

“It is vital that we act quickly so that we can fulfill our obligation to the men and women who are so bravely and capably serving their fellow citizens.”

This fiscal year’s budget allots $4 million for the state’s National Guard emergency response and $3.4 million for the Missouri agency that handles emergency expenses, including the state troopers, according to the governor.

It’s unclear how much more money is needed. The fiscal year ends in June.

Nixon’s call came as tensions returned to Ferguson streets late Friday night after a Thanksgiving lull.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets this week amid anger over a grand jury’s decision Monday not to indict Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager.

15 of 16 arrested from outside Missouri

That fury was rawest right after the decision was announced, but it hasn’t gone away.

In fact, hundreds more protesters turned out late Friday after a quiet Thanksgiving, clashing with officers and National Guard troops outside the Ferguson Police Department.

“Who do you protect, who do you serve?” protesters chanted as they faced off with police. Others yelled “I pay you!”

As protesters stepped into the street, authorities rushed across to take them into custody — pulling some to the ground and shackling them with plastic zip-tie cuffs.

At least 16 people were arrested, including one facing a charge of assault on a law enforcement officer. One officer was injured, police said.

Notably, just one of those arrested was from Missouri, with nine from New York, three from in and around Chicago, two from California and one from Iowa, according to police.

Organizers had called for a Black Friday shopping boycott, forcing the St. Louis Galleria Mall to shut down temporarily on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Officials in St. Louis urged Galleria retailers to bring down security gates after several hundred protesters entered the mall and disrupted shopping.

Protesters chanted “Hands up, don’t shop,” while others lay on the floor in a “die-in.”

If supporters did shop, they were told to take their money to black-owned businesses, some of which were listed on social media. Wilson is white; Brown was black.

Nationwide protests

The protests have spread beyond Ferguson.

Nationwide demonstrations included service disruptions at an Oakland, California, transit station and a march in New York City.

Protesters in Seattle clashed with authorities as well, prompting police to use pepper spray.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray appealed for calm.

“I support the First Amendment rights of protesters, but violence against property or police officers will not be tolerated in our city,” he said.

In Oakland, major delays were reported at a BART train station because of “civil unrest,” according to a service advisory.

Protesters chanted “Which side are you on?” and “Black lives matter” at BART officers.

CNN’s Ray Sanchez and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.

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