Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon Declares State of Emergency, Activates National Guard

If you’re wondering whether the grand jury is about to reveal
its decision in the Michael Brown/Darren Wilson case,
this seems like a significant development:

I, JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and Laws of the State of Missouri, including Sections
44.010 through 44.130, RSMo, do hereby declare a State of Emergency
exists in the State of Missouri.

I further direct the Missouri State Highway Patrol together with
the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis
Metropolitan Police Department to operate as a Unified Command to
protect civil rights and ensure public safety in the City of
Ferguson and the St. Louis region.

I further order that the St. Louis County Police Department shall
have command and operational control over security in the City of
Ferguson relating to areas of protests, acts of civil disobedience
and conduct otherwise arising from such activities.

I further order that the Unified Command may
exercise operational authority in such other jurisdictions it deems
necessary to protect civil rights and ensure public safety and that
other law enforcement agencies shall assist the Unified Command
when so requested and shall cooperate with operational directives
of the Unified Command.

I further order, pursuant to Section 41.480, RSMo, the Adjutant
General of the State of Missouri, or his designee, to forthwith
call and order into active service such portions of the organized
militia as he deems necessary to protect life and property and
assist civilian authorities and it is further directed that the
Adjutant General or his designee, and through him, the commanding
officer of any unit or other organization of such organized militia
so called into active service take such action and employ such
equipment as may be necessary to carry out requests processed
through the Missouri State Highway Patrol and ordered by the
Governor of the state to protect life and property and support
civilian authorities….

To read the rest of the executive order, go
here.