A state of emergency has been declared in Ferguson, just a day after the city commemorated the one-year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown by a white police officer. Cornel West and DeRay McKesson are two of several Black Lives Matter activists who were arrested this afternoon while protesting.

Prior to his arrest, McKesson warned on social media that "the officers at the DOF have threatened to use chemical agents on protesters."

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger declared the state of emergency, issuing the following statement:

"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the city of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency effective immediately."

Cover image: Twitter