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© Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFPPolice fire tear gas at demonstrators protesting the shooting of Michael Brown after they refused to honor the midnight curfew on August 17, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.
The authorities in Ferguson, Missouri, are still enforcing the curfew that bars residents, bent on venting their outrage at the murder of a black teenager by a police officer, from being on the streets after midnight.

"We are trying to use the least amount of force to provide people the ability to speak while also protecting the property of the people of Ferguson," Missouri governor Jay Nixon said on Sunday in an interview on CNN.

Nixon didn't mention if authorities are planning to cancel the curfew any time soon, adding it depends on the community. "We'd like to see it ratcheted down. What we'd like to see, that will be judged by the community," he said.

Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman Justin Wheetley elaborated further, saying that officials will decide on whether to cancel the curfew on a day-by-day basis.

During the previous night, some of the most hardline protesters remained on the streets after the curfew, annoyed by what they say are the authorities' efforts to quell the protest by imposing more restrictions on residents instead of addressing the issue.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, and arrested seven people for disobedience. One person has also been shot and critically wounded, and the shooter is still at large, police said.

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© Reuters/Lucas JacksonDemonstrators stand in an overflow crowd outside of a church where civil rights leader Al Sharpton spoke with community leaders, as communities continue to react to the shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 17, 2014.
The curfew was imposed following a week of racially charged protests after Darren Wilson, a Ferguson police officer, shot and killed unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown. Authorities say the curfew is needed to separate peaceful protesters from the looters who marred rallies earlier in the week.

However, critics maintain police are mishandling the aftermath and refusing to hear the community's call for justice. Amnesty International also disagreed with the curfew being a viable option to ease tensions. Margaret Huang, deputy executive director of Amnesty International USA, said, "the people of Ferguson should not have their rights further restricted."

"It's hard to build trust when the governor won't meet with community members and restricts their movements with a curfew," Huang said.

The Ferguson tragedy not also triggered outrage in the town and massive vigils, but also saw thousands of people across the United States marching in solidarity with people who have been victims of police brutality.

Authorities say that the US Department of Justice is increasing its efforts in the investigation, with FBI agents questioning witnesses and an additional autopsy will be performed by a federal medical examiner.