Before Saturday's police shooting of an African-American teenager, Ferguson, Missouri, was known as one of hundreds of municipalities designated by a national nonprofit as a "Playful City USA," a place where children are supposed to have access to more opportunities to play in their communities. But the shooting death of Michael Brown, a college-bound 18-year-old, by a police officer has brought national attention to the mostly black community for another reason. Witnesses and residents say the young man was unarmed. Police say he tried to take an officer's gun. Authorities, citing threats and safety issues, have refused to identify the officer. Protests have turned violent. Tensions remain high after isolated looting incidents and dozens of arrests in the St. Louis suburb of 22,400.
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Ferguson, Missouri, was one of hundreds of municipalities designated a "Playful City USA"
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The shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, by police has put it in the national spotlight
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Three of the city's 53 officers are African-American
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63% of Ferguson's population is black; 34% is white
African-American
At the same time, many @placeholder-American families started to move to Ferguson from St. Louis and surrounding communities.
African-American
At the same time, many African-@placeholder families started to move to Ferguson from St. Louis and surrounding communities.
St. Louis
At the same time, many African-American families started to move to Ferguson from @placeholder and surrounding communities.
Ferguson
Ferguson
Ferguson
Other factors about @placeholder need to be considered, observers said.