Ferguson residents express despair at violence

More than thirty people have been arrested during another night of unrest in the US state of Missouri.

Police in riot gear clashed with protestors in the predominantly black community of Ferguson, and National Guard troops took up positions in nearby neighborhoods.

It's the first time the military has been on American streets since the Los Angeles race riots of 1992.

The violence began following the shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a local police officer.

Steve Mort reports from Ferguson.

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SCRIPT:

Tear gas streams through the streets of Ferguson.

This is the ninth night of violent protests over the police killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager.

There's real anger here, and a sense of injustice - that for some is a troubling reminder of America's not too distant past.

INSERT: "The tension is high and the police being here is not helping. The police are very intimidating. A lot of black people do not trust the police as much as they used to."

So what do these riots reveal about race relations in America today? 50 years since the Civil Rights Act enshrined racial equality into law, two generations of one Ferguson family say very little has changed:

Francesca Griffin says she and her two younger cousins came down to see what was happening on the streets of Ferguson on Monday night

INSERT: "You know sometimes black people get looked at as if we're a threat. you have my cousins who are in school but if they got tattoos or look a certain way, other people tend to fear them - but these are our kids., we raised them. I don't know if have hope. I know I defientley have fear, fear for my children, fear for my family, for all of these young boys out here."

And those young boys are fearful too. 16 year old Aurelius Davis wants to be a mechanical engineer but he hasn't been to school all for days. The police shut it because of the riots.

"I was kinda scared cos we haven't been to school for a week now. It's a lot to take in when you're young like me" I hope it become more peaceful for my future."

A lot to take in for his cousin Kyle Collier too, who's the same age as Michael Brown.

'it was messed up how it went down. Justice needs to be done. no justice, no peace."

The man put in charge of bringing about that peace, Captain Ron Johnson, tried to appease the protesters - as he was swarmed by angry Ferguson residents.

INSERT: "And you're right, mike brown can't go to college, and you're right, you're absolutely right, mike brown should be able to go to college, those little kids her should be able to go to college, "

But despite Johnsons efforts tensions escalated - and many protestors but the blame squarely on police. 24 year-old Blake was covered in tear gas residue as he explained his ordeal.

INSERT: "We're standing peaceful protesting and then they send tear gas. it's like crazy. It's like it's lawless in the streets. They're supposed to protect and serve but they're provoking the violence."

Another protestor said the election of America;s first black president in 2008 has done little to improve the lives of African Americans.

INSERT: "The treatment's always been like this for our people and a black president, Obama hasn't done nothing for us. A boac president don't make no difference."

President Obama says he's monitoring the situation in Missouri but many here believe he should come here to see for himself the problems of this troubled town.