Two police officers were shot outside the Ferguson, Missouri, Police Department early Thursday as demonstrators gathered there after the news that the city's police chief, Tom Jackson, would resign. Jackson's resignation came in the wake of a Department of Justice report that found broad racial bias in the city's police department and municipal courts system.
It's a developing story (here's what we know so far) that's sure to elicit strong reactions and a variety of interpretations. But one thing should be beyond debate: who's to blame for what happened.
Do you know? Check your understanding of the situation here.
Will you support Vox’s explanatory journalism?
Most news outlets make their money through advertising or subscriptions. But when it comes to what we’re trying to do at Vox, there are a couple reasons that we can't rely only on ads and subscriptions to keep the lights on.
First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead.
Second, we’re not in the subscriptions business. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. We can’t do that if we have a paywall.
That’s why we also turn to you, our readers, to help us keep Vox free. If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today?
Yes, I'll give $5/month
Yes, I'll give $5/month
We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and
Google Pay. You can also contribute via