Darren Wilson, policeman who shot dead Michael Brown in Ferguson, quits the force
As Darren Wilson resigns for 'safety' reasons, activists begin protest march
The white US police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager in a St Louis suburb has resigned, as activists set out on a 200km march to protest against the killing and a grand jury's decision not to indict him.
The resignation of Darren Wilson from the Ferguson police force comes nearly four months after he killed 18-year-old Michael Brown and days after the announcement that he would not face criminal charges.
The incident, which has led to months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson, has reignited a debate over race relations and the use of police force.
Neil Bruntrager, a lawyer for Wilson, confirmed that the officer had submitted his resignation, a move that was long anticipated.
"In terms of his safety, it is probably the best thing for him," said Cynthia Burnes, 26, a nurse's assistant from St Louis who was among about 50 people gathered in front of the Ferguson police headquarters on Saturday evening. "He is blacklisted from this moment on."
A man was arrested at the scene after he knelt in the middle of the street with his hands raised, chanting "Hands up, don't shoot", a common refrain at Ferguson protests.
Wilson, who said he was acting in self-defence when he shot Brown, said he wanted to wait until after the grand jury's decision before he made his decision to resign, according to the letter.
On Saturday, activists shifted gears by setting off on a seven-day march from Ferguson to Jefferson City, the state capital. More than 150 people set out on the "Journey for Justice" from the Canfield Green Apartments, near the spot where Brown was shot and killed.
